Tonight at 9pm on BBC1 tv, Panorama looks at homecare services. Two companies feature, and one of them is stockmarket-listed company Care UK.

Previews of the programme have not hit the share price yet (it's actually doing quite well this month). But I imagine the weekend papers will take up the story and it's sure to do some damage.

Try a Google News search for 'Care UK' to see some of the dozens of articles now appearing. Some use horrendous images from the programme - including this one of a patient who got hit in the face by a mishandled hoist (and suffered a second hoist accident a day or two later requiring head staples)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/09/article-0-045BEBBC000005DC-851_476x387.jpg




Among the many press reports now appearing is this one from St Helens:


St Helens MP Dave Watts also joined the chorus of critics of Care UK, calling on council chiefs to axe the company.

The Panorama programmes features a series of allegations into appalling standards of care. They include a dementia-sufferer left lying in her own excrement for 24 hours.

A Care UK client in Harrow was hospitalised after he was hit in the face with a hoist.

St Helens Council declined to comment.

However, Councillor Joe Pearson, the local Labour' group's spokesman for Adult Social Care and Health, called on St Helens Council to axe Care UK's contract.

He said: "I am appalled at this catalogue of evidence against Care UK and the practices they use. Labour has raised concerns relating to Care UK at full Council and Labour is now calling on St Helens Council to immediately investigate the suitability of Care UK continuing to deliver domiciliary care for residents in St Helens.



www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/st-helens-news/Undercover-probe-into-St-Helens.5157335.jp

That image I linked to in the header above, looks sickening. But having now seen the programme, there was actually even more severe bruising, around the jaw area, which doesn't show fully in that photo.

The eldlerly would get better care living in a 3nd world country . can the director's of this company have criminal charges bought against them ? they must be breaking human rights law's [ what a joke, well done Tony Blair next time read the small print . that's what Lawyer would do, sorry you were a trained Lawyer.

"..Care UK is also understood to be bidding for contracts in Rotherham including a rapid response nursing service for older people. The company is believed to be the preferred bidder.

But this week NHS Rotherham announced it was reconsidering the plans ...."

Hi guys and gals, just dropped in to see the SP reaction- not a lot yet. This looks to be the best example of the conflict between profit and social care and why outsourcing doesn't always work. I wouldn't touch the shares or their services with a bargepole. I feel sorry for the care staff and the people they are trying to support.

Yes I too have sympathy for the frontline staff who take the brunt of complaints directly from patients/customers, but some of whom are operating under impossible expectations and unrealistic timetables.