Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care, Carers and Older People, responding to Unison’s research on 15-minute home care visits, said:

“This research is a stark reminder of the damage being done to older people’s care in this country by the Tories.

“Under David Cameron, £4.5 billion has been taken out of adult social care budgets. This means that 300,000 fewer older people are getting support, while others are having to put up with just a 15 minute care visit. These flying visits are so short that some older people are having to choose between getting washed or dressed.

“The growing crisis in older people’s care is one of the main reasons why the NHS is under so much pressure – and the Government’s plan to fund social care is completely inadequate.

“Ministers cannot allow this neglect of social care services go on.”