SOME say that life begins at 40, but what happens when you reach the next big milestone? Well, the truth of the matter is that after 50, nothing's quite the same.

Regardless of how well we may have looked after ourselves, the stark truth is that the human body starts to show signs of the ageing process at this time. And we're not just talking about wrinkles, either - once the half century has been reached, that illness is not quite so easily shaken off. You don't need a doctor to tell you this.

In fact, as we grow older, there is an increased likelihood that we may find ourselves in hospital. However, should you find yourself in a bed at Worcestershire Royal you might like to contemplate today's depressing revelations that the standard of care for the over-50s at this institution has been rated among the lowest in the West Midlands.

The data in the Saga study was collated by analysing each hospital across Britain. Our view? It's an utter disgrace urgently in need of treatment.

The public perception of the NHS is increasingly becoming one of a monolithic organisation which has created enormous bureaucracies that soak up money and resources while patient care takes a back seat.

We don't go all the way down that road, but still feel that the public cannot be blamed for thinking this when they view the performance of what was supposed to be a showcase hospital. Something has gone very wrong - and it is entirely predictable that the usual age group is being obliged to pick up the tab.