WHEN care homes fail an inspection, it should always be a cause for concern.

These establishments look after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and must be held to the highest of standards.

Every one of the elderly people, many in the grip of dementia, should be treated with the utmost consideration and respect as if they were the management and staff’s own family.

Whatever else time has taken from them, they must be able to retain their dignity.

There is the further fear that these under-performing homes may be in receipt of taxpayers’ money through councils placing clients there.

In these straightened times it is beholden on all that public money is spent carefully and wisely.

As we report today on pages 1, 4 and 5, the watchdog that oversees the care sector has uncovered serious and glaring problems at three Hampshire homes.

The details of what some of the residents had to endure and the risks they were exposed to does not make happy reading.

When you see a home described as “not safe” it sends a shudder down the spine.

Those in charge of running the homes have been quick to “welcome” the findings and pledge that improvements will be made.

It is vital that the watchdog keeps up the pressure and forces all homes to reach the highest possible standard.