PATIENTS and staff at a home care service have criticised conditions there, describing a catalogue of problems including understaffing, missed pay and poor service.

Highfield Home Care, based in Clarence Road, Southend, has been experiencing problems with its computer system for the past three weeks, which has led to the difficulties.

The company carries out 4,000 home visits each week to elderly people all over south Essex.

One member of staff, who asked not to be named, said: "Calls are not getting covered, nobody knows what is going on and we feel terrible. Because the computers are down it is impossible to tell which calls have been dealt with.

"We've had problems before, but nothing as bad as this. Some of the girls are walking out.

"The majority of service users are totally dependent on us. Everyone is doing their best to try to help out, but we are really struggling."

One woman whose elderly mother uses Highfield, said she was disgusted.

She said: "My mum is supposed to have someone visit her at 1pm on Tuesdays for her lunch, but the carer was really late.

"We know it's not the carers' fault, they are doing the best they can."

Amanda Pleavin, marketing services director, said: "We are aware there have been a small number of contained incidents relating to problems caused by the disconnection of a system line. BT have fully accepted their responsibility in incorrectly disconnecting the line and are working to reinstate it as quickly as possible.

"We apologise unreservedly for any issues or problems that may have resulted from this fault."