I HAVE a 94 year-old Mother living in Crediton, for whom I act as power of attorney.

In recent years she has been treated at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Renal unit, and has to have monthly blood tests locally.

This was organised by her local surgery and a nurse visited every month to take the sample. The reason for the home visit was that for some years my Mother has been handicapped with bad hips.

In the last 10 years she has undergone the replacement of both hips, the last when she was 92. Once or twice a week she is able to visit the shopping area in town, aided by her walking trolley, but progress is slow and not easy.

Some “kind” soul saw my Mother in town and reported the fact to her surgery, who then advised that as she was obviously able to walk she would not be entitled to a home visit for the monthly sampling of her blood.

My Mother was puzzled by this sudden ruling and I took the matter up with her Doctor.

Jobs Worth dictates that rules are rules – period. Yes, my Mother can get to the surgery, by taxi at a cost of £8, plus the physical problem of getting into and out of the surgery.

Yes, I could travel over from Tiverton and take her, a round trip of 25 miles just for a blood test, but surely, for an elderly lady to have to struggle and worry about this monthly blood test and how she is going to get to the surgery about a mile away just because a nosey person saw her in town is a problem too far for her.

A year ago there was no problem, and a nurse arrived every month for the crucial blood sampling. Now, there is this unnecessary problem imposed by a questionable ethic that states that rules are set in concrete and there are no exceptions to any rule, however daft that rule is.

Whoever wishes to ensure this rule is adhered to, I trust that life will be somewhat kinder to you if you ever reach the age of 94.

Jill Mitchell

Tiverton