UNISON has called for a recruitment drive for homecare workers after a report by the Commission for Social Care found that elderly people in the UK are at the whim of a postcode lottery in terms of the care they receive in their old age.

UNISON’s national secretary for local government, Heather Wakefield, says: "The elderly and disabled are amongst the most vulnerable people in our community. It is shocking to think many will have to develop a life threatening condition before their local council will provide social care.

"It is clear to UNISON that homecare needs better funding, and local councils need to focus on recruiting staff. Boosting staff recruitment and retention in these very areas would cut down on long term costs and provide quality of care in the community."