WE'VE all seen the headlines telling us how carers in care homes have blighted the lives of elderly and vulnerable people. How some have even been convicted of assault.

Thankfully, such cases are rare, but The Press has learned that staff whistleblowers in care homes, raised 89 concerns in York and North Yorkshire between January and October this year.

That alone would be cause for concern, but it's a drop in the ocean because we reveal today how almost 4,000 official complaints have been made against care providers in York and North Yorkshire this year.

The complaints relate to everything the Care Quality Commission (CQC) watchdog covers, including hospitals, homes, dental pracices and GP surgeries.

Not surprisingly the figures have caused consternation. Hugh Bayley, MP for York Central is so concerned that he has tabled a Parliamentary question over this level of complaints.

Worryingly, the number, nationally, has risen exponentially this year and doubts have been raised about the CQC's ability to cope with this volume.

The more so since yesterday it was revealed that in England 60 GP surgeries the commission recently placed in a high-risk category are nothing of the sort, while four considered to be low-risk need an early inspection.

But perhaps the biggest worry is how the elderly and vulnerable are being looked after. Like anyone in the hands of carers, they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, but away from the eyes of relatives they depend more than anyone on a well led culture of care.

We hope our revelations mean more failing care providers will be forced to get their act together.