TO say I was stunned by Coun Mallinson's attack on the council care workers is frankly an understatement (SA, letters April 4).

Having seen the council commissioned report of the service, it is clear that very many of the failings are indeed the mismanagement of the service, rather than the care workers themselves.

If he is correct in his assessment of hours actually worked etc, then who else is to blame other than supervisors and above. As an employer you schedule your employees hours and only pay them if they actually work them.

The report seems to indicate a complete lack of integrated management.

Perhaps Coun Mallinson and his fellow Tory councillors should have read their own report more carefully where it outlined very clearly that the cuts could be made in the management team, and thus improve efficiency. I did not note any suggestion from the report’s author of the need to transfer the services out of council control.

What is also concerning is that the council appears to have contracted out this service to four companies none of which has achieved the level of rating by the Care Commission that its own in-house team, did, 3 Star Excellent.

Coun Mallinson accuses members of the council opposition of playing politics, and others of lying. I would suggest Coun Mallinson and his colleagues are playing Russian roulette with the lives of the elderly and vulnerable. A far worse 'crime' than playing politics.

ROBERT FEAL-MARTINEZ South Marston Swindon