Dorothy Marshman, of Cumber Close, Malborough, writes:

My heart goes out to the ladies featured in your story headed ‘Women’s fury at “injustice” of changes to ­pension age’, Gazette, January 22, and particularly to Thea from Harbertonford, who regretted that her clerical ­training and state-enrolled nurse qualification are no longer valid.

The latter issue is a crying shame, as such training and experience are clearly in demand for patients requiring end-of-life care, both in hospital and in the community.

Many of those tasks do not necessarily involve heavy ­lifting, as administering food and fluids, for example, require much time, patience and skill.

Not only would this be a valuable service to the patient and the National Health Service, it would also provide some income for people in Thea’s position.

This is surely an indictment of our care system: that it fails to recognise and utilise the expertise of those with years of practical experience that would be to the benefit of everyone concerned.