Britain will be no country for sick old men in London during the Olympic Games

An article on the front page of the 'Observer' today was entitled :

Olympic VIPs take fast lane leaving patients at risk

Games organisers accused of risking health of Londoners by banning ambulances without blue lights on from 'Games lanes'

It made the following points, that during the Olympic Games in London this summer :

* the Olympic stadium will be accessed by VIPs in 30 miles of 'Games lanes' to ensure that 'Olympic Family'- athletes, officials and sponsors, including Coca-Cola and McDonald's can travel quickly to events.

* ambulances will be allowed to use the lanes in emergencies when they have their blue lights on, but critics say there are many urgent journeys that cannot justify the use of blue lights.

* the lanes will worsen traffic congestion and leave sick and vulnerable patients stranded in ambulances in traffic jams and  the decision to reject a request for access from National Health Service London, the capital's strategic health authority, has led to a storm of anger.

* Leah Bevington, Head of Communication at 'Medical Services', which transports patients for the NHS said :

"This means that sick people, often elderly and frail, urgent blood supplies, oxygen, will all be made to wait in traffic with the rest of us. Congestion can be bad enough around London on a regular day so you can imagine that we are concerned that patients will be on a vehicle for much longer periods of time."

Confirmed once more that : Britain is no country for sick old men.