Minister 'horrified' by care programme

Panorama's Fran Baker undercover as a care worker

A Government minister has admitted he was 'horrified' after watching a Panorama investigation of home care services for vulnerable older people.

The comments came after the broadcast of -'A Carer's Story, in which Panorama Assistant Producer Fran Baker worked undercover as a home care worker for three months.

Stephen Ladyman, junior health minister responsible for social care, was in no doubt that there was a problem which needs to be addressed.

Speaking at a home care conference, he said he was "horrified" by what he had seen.

Terrified

"Panorama raised valid concerns about the quality and safety of domiciliary care provision...let's take the blame ourselves and come out determined to put things right," he added.

Fran was sent out alone with little or no training, a false CV, no police check and inadequate references, she worked for a number of homecare agencies in Brighton and Liverpool for up to 16 hours a day - sometimes for as little as £5.60 an hour.

At the end of 'A Carer's Story', Fran said: "When I started as a carer I knew it was a hard job but I had no idea that at the end of it I would feel this upset. Now I'm absolutely terrified of getting old."

The Panorama programme achieved a big response from the public and the BBC action line received 8,000 calls in the 12 hours following the broadcast.

Panorama also received more than 900 emails about the programme in the seven days after it was broadcast.