I too watched Panorama's "A Carer's Story" with dismay and Brighton and Hove City Council has taken the issues raised by the programme very seriously.

Before it was shown, the council had already identified concerns with regard to the two agencies involved and we have acted on these concerns.

We would have been able to act even sooner with better communication from the programme makers.

Sadly, our request for an advance viewing or script to help us use their evidence to take action was denied by the BBC.

We welcome the fact the Government has, as of April this year, brought in the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) to regulate and inspect domiciliary care.

However, we want to assure everyone we continue to operate our own rigorous monitoring of all the agencies that are contracted to carry out work on the council's behalf.

Panorama's secret filming caused a regrettable invasion of privacy to a number of individuals and their families.

But the programme has helped to raise awareness of the serious care problem this country is facing with an ageing population to look after.

Society has to make a conscious decision about whether or not it is prepared to invest its resources to ensure we can have a highly trained, well-paid, well-supported network of carers.

-Coun Gerry Kielty, chairman of Adult Social Services Committee, Brighton and Hove City Council