WHAT has been the most shocking event of the last week or so? Michael Jackson's arrest over child abuse allegations? The huge amount of taxpayers' money spent on President Bush's visit? Forging references to breach security at Buckingham Palace?

No, the biggest scandal (which does involve abuse, taxpayers' money and fake references) was highlighted by a recent Panorama programme.

A journalist worked undercover for several months using fake references without any previous experience, and no real on-the-job training, as a home care worker for the most vulnerable sector of society, the frail, housebound elderly.

She was employed by three different care agencies under contract for social services and the programme highlighted the consequences of the massive under-investment by this and previous governments into front line social services for the elderly.

The York branch of the Alzheimer's Society receives a lot of feedback about local home care services and we are humbled by the sheer dedication of many of these workers who, in return for a huge amount of responsibility and undertaking very intimate personal care tasks, receive an hourly rate below that of staff at their local supermarket check-out.

The nationwide lack of resources and scarcity of trained, committed staff places enormous strains on all home care services. There must be many more distressing incidents that never come to light.

Gill Myers,

Alzheimer's Society, York branch,

The Retreat, York.

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, November 27, 2003