Abuse and neglect of the elderly by carers, as reported across the national media yesterday, should not be blamed upon individual carers, says Sarah Green, owner of Bunbury Care Agency.

Green suggests that agencies that overwork staff are partially responsible for the poor care that may result, which hit the national press following a report into standards by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

She told Recruiter: “If you can get around [and see] four people in an hour, that puts pressure on the staff. They run around like headless chickens — it doesn’t surprise me, staff are under so much pressure.”

She adds: “Regulations are increasingly strict, it’s just the enforcement that’s the problem.”

A statement from the inspection and regulatory body the Care Quality Commission (CQC) says: “Home care is one of the most difficult areas of care to monitor.” The CQC says it will launch a “themed inspection programme” to look into the issues raised in the EHRC’s report.

In the end, Green argues, “it all goes back to the amount of investment the government is prepared to make”.