IT IS worrying that a union is now warning that other care home providers in the UK are “on the brink of collapse” following the revelations over Southern Cross.

Southern Cross, which is responsible for looking after 31,000 elderly residents, including some in Gwent, will underpay its rent for the next four months as it struggles with a £230 million annual rental bill.

Now Unison is claiming this may not be a one-off.

It says private equity takeovers of public services that use “high risk’’ business models will leave taxpayers picking up the bill for more company failures.

In 1990, nearly 200,000 of the 500,000 people in residential care were cared for in homes owned and run by local authorities and the NHS.

Now just 31,000 people are in the public care sector.

If current trends continue it is estimated there will be no local authority- employed homecare staff left by 2020.

Clearly somewhere there is a problem.

The care of the elderly should be a priority, not a financial afterthought.

Companies should be scrutinised more, not left to borrow too heavily.

While we don’t believe for one minute some claims that elderly people will be left on the streets as a result of this crisis, it is time privatesector care of the elderly is reviewed.

People do not need stress and worry at this time in their lives – they need assurances all will be well.