News that an action plan is being drawn up to look at providing more joined up care for older people in the Bradford district is to be welcomed.

It fits in with the aims of this newspaper’s ongoing With Respect campaign, which was set up to raise awareness of the importance of treating our older generation with respect and dignity.

It is a campaign that has been welcomed by all sections of the community, from David Cameron down, and it is reassuring that representatives of many of the agencies involved in the care of our elderly met up together to look at how best to continue with effective care in the face of ongoing financial cutbacks.

Real concerns that some of the more vulnerable members of our society are slipping through the net on the back of these cuts were raised at a conference yesterday, organised by the Holme Wood Christian Community.

And it is vital that some form of action plan is in place to stop this from happening. The cuts are unavoidable and will continue to be an issue, so it is vital that events like this help to provide a voice for those who cannot always speak up for themselves in an articulate way.

We can all help to make a difference to the way senior members are treated by society as a whole, by making sure we care for our family properly, looking out for our neighbours, and providing support to older people. But it is vital that there is a structured plan in place from health and social service providers to ensure no one is allowed to slip through the net.

And every effort must be made to mitigate the effects of spending cuts on the vital services that are provided for the older generation, so they can continue to be treated with the respect they are due and that they deserve.