SIR – I am writing in response to the article reporting zero rating for the care company, Plan Personnel. Come on Herts County Council, shouldn t the contract be terminated? A zero rating in four out of five categories, surely tells you something. How

SIR - I am writing in response to the article reporting zero rating for the care company, Plan Personnel.

Come on Herts County Council, shouldn't the contract be terminated? A zero rating in four out of five categories, surely tells you something.

How have they even scored good for personal care?

My relative is housed in a complex for people with dementia and which has 24-hour care, one carer per shift for 10 people, provided by Plan Personnel.

In the space of three months I had cause to complain about three incidents. The first occasion I telephoned the unit to enquire about my relative's health as he had been unwell. The carer responded with 'I hate him. I can go and check on him if you like'.

Really caring!!

The second occasion I arrived to collect my relative, pre-arranged with the carers, for an evening hospital appointment to find him and his bed covered in dried faeces.

On another occasion, in the early hours of a very cold January morning, my relative managed to leave an alarmed building, wearing just a pyjama jacket, and was found some two hours later on the ground, in a very confused and cold state. The carer on duty at the time was unaware he was missing and didn't even know his name or the address of the complex, when calling the ambulance service.

What about the other incidents that probably go unreported?

I must emphasise that the majority of the carers that I have come into contact with do an amazing job and should be recognised and congratulated for their compassion and hard work.

Brenda Tutton, Boundary

Lane, WGC.