I hope no one gets snotty either. They damn well shouldn't. But Tom. just a minute, what is your local social services thinking of? They should take a referral from ANYONE, neighbour, bystander, and certainly a paramedic. Do you mean that if you - even personally - drop SS a note saying "I am very concerned about Mrs Bloggins because she is frail and living off cat food" they are going to IGNORE your letter because it has not gone through the "normal channels"? Oh God, just a minute..... there isn't a PROTOCOL now is there for referral to social services? ARRRRRGH! John