THROUGH my work with the St Vincent de Paul Society I have visited the elderly in many of York's residential and nursing homes and have not always been happy with what I have seen.

When my mother needed nursing care we chose Laurens Manor, which I have visited regularly and have enjoyed my visits because the staff are very caring, have time to chat and joke with the residents and give them a hug - a real home-from-home.

During her time there we have found the Tait family and their team open and honest about the running of their nursing home. Laurens Manor is one of the better homes in York and it may be the best.

I cannot praise the Tait team more highly for a care service which works up to a high standard rather than down to a price.

Any criticism must be levelled at the Government and its agents, City of York Council. Nationally two care homes a week are closing. Altogether 280 places have been lost in the York area since November 2000 because of the closure of a number of private care homes.

The main reason for the closures is the high cost of running homes to present standards with these costs not being fully met by local authority funding.

A Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust Report recommended an above-inflation increase in minimum fees was needed to restore confidence in the sector and secure the beds needed to ensure viability of homes into the future.

We now witness the closure of Laurens Manor and the loss of a further 27 beds because of City of York Council's inability to accept the recommendation of this report.

Frances Shaw,

East Parade,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 10:54 Thursday, December 18, 2003