EX-CABINET Minister Mo Mowlam, renowned for not pulling her punches, backed the Journal in highlighting the problems surrounding care of the elderly and the problems facing care home-owners when she visited Salisbury on Tuesday.
Dr Mowlam, former Northern Ireland secretary, who stood down as an MP last year, said the crisis facing nursing homes for the elderly was a problem that "has to be tackled".
She said: "I think it is a serious problem and the government must act. It is not just good enough.
"It affects the well-being of the elderly, it causes bed-blocking in our hospitals and causes difficulties for so many people.
"I hope the social security department gets down now and starts tackling the problem."
Dr Mowlam spoke out during her stop at the city's Ottakar's bookshop, where she signed copies of her autobiography Momentum.
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