BBC prompts elderly care inquiry

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MSPs are to investigate standards in elderly care provision, following a recent BBC Panorama programme.

Holyrood's Local Government Committee is to look into the controversial practice of using online bidding auctions for homecare contracts.

The documentary raised concerns over care provision in South Lanarkshire.

Committee convener Duncan McNeil said one of his constituents had compared the tendering process to buying cheap jewellery on a TV shopping channel.

The so-called 'reverse e-auctions' involves firms bidding against rivals over the internet to deliver the service for the lowest price.

The practice was revealed in Britain's Homecare Scandal: A Panorama Special - an in-depth investigation of care providers in Harrow, York and South Lanarkshire.

Domiciliary Care, won the South Lanarkshire contract by bidding £9.95 an hour - £12 less than it costs local councils on average.

Undercover filming revealed carers rushing between appointments, with some being missed entirely.

Government recommendations

The committee will interview representatives from South Lanarkshire Council and the Care Commission, and the findings will form the basis of a recommendation to the Scottish Government.

Labour MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Mr McNeil, said: "The programme raised serious issues about social care provision and the procurement and tendering process.

"The committee were all agreed that it needed investigation and we expect to begin taking evidence in the next few weeks."

Reverse e-auctions have been criticised by trade unions and campaigners for older people.