Letter: Why won’t political parties acknowledge country’s admin breakdown?

Hooray! The scandal of NHS waiting lists has finally been acknowledged, something that affects many of us. In my case I have a two-year wait for an appointment at Royal Bournemouth Hospital following request by my GP.

Sadly, NHS waiting lists are just one part of the breakdown of our administration systems, both locally and nationally.

TV researchers have identified the extensive delays in court procedures and overcrowding in our prisons. Is a five-year delay in Harry Dunn’s inquest acceptable?

Have any of you applied for registration of Lasting Power of Attorney documents? A delay of 24 weeks is the norm, even if the complex documents are completed correctly.

I’m sure readers will have experienced other delays in local and national procedures, some of which are resulting in significant costs. The delays of more than six months in processing immigration documents are costing our country more than £6 million a day in hotel bills. Delays in the assessment of children’s additional and care needs are growing weekly.

Sadly, none of the political parties have acknowledged the breadth of the breakdown in our country’s administration or identified measures to improve the procedures.

I hope readers will feel encouraged to tell you about the delays they have experienced, including those in making benefit claims.

But please no official enquiry! The length of the infected blood and Post Office enquiries have shown how long that can take.

John Lay-Flurrie

New Milton