Thursday, April 9, 2009

Coming up on Panorama

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NEXT PANORAMA - BRITAIN'S HOMECARE SCANDAL- THURSDAY 9PM ON BBC ONE

BRITAIN'S HOMECARE SCANDAL: A PANORAMA SPECIAL

Tonight BBC One is showing a Panorama special which sheds light on a world that is often invisible. In Britain's Homecare Scandal Panorama went undercover in some of Britain's biggest homecare providers.

What they have filmed reveals a chaotic world which in some cases verges on neglect.

The programme investigates the process by which some councils select their homecare providers.

Our reporter Paul Kenyon reveals how some local authorities are operating an online auction process, which sees the lowest bidder winning contracts to care for the elderly.

Research comssioned for the programme from the London School of Economics shows the independent sector now provides 70% of home care. The figure was 2% in 1992 when the doors were first opened to the independent sector.

Today the industry is worth £1.5 billion but as Panorama shows, there are serious concerns over the services provided by some companies.

Dame Joan Bakewell, the government's newly appointed Voice of Older People, has called it immoral and scandalous.

You can see why, tonight on BBC One at 9pm.

For more information on tonight's programme visit the Panorama website where you will also find details on organisations that can offer help and advice for anyone affected by tonight's programme.

LIFE AFTER WOOLIES

It should have been celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, but instead January saw the last doors close on of the nation's best loved stores, Woolworths.

It left 27,000 people out of a job and was a decisive marker that the UK was heading towards a recession.

807 stores were closed across the country. Since then, Panorama has been following former Woolies staff from across the country as they desperately try to escape the burgeoning ranks of the unemployed.

Life After Woolies will be on BBC One, Monday 13 April at 8.30pm.

SLUMDOGS AND MILLIONAIRES

Monday's programme revealed the dark side of the Dubai dream where an immigrant workforce is often treated little better than slaves.

Reporter Ben Anderson secretly followed construction workers from their place of employment to their accommodation. He was shocked by what he found. Cramped conditions with overflowing sewage and blocked toilets and grown men struggling to afford to feed themselves.

He spoke to some of the men who had paid up to £2,000 to recruiters in their home countries to make the journey to what they were sold as the land of opportunity. They spoke of working often 12-hour shifts, six days a week, some without payment, others earning just £120 a month.

If you missed the programme you can catch it on the Panorama website.

There you can also watch a video extra on how workers are recruited in Bangladesh.

That's all for this week. We'll be returning to our regular newsletter slot next Friday and wish all our readers a Happy Easter.

In the meantime you can keep up to date with Panorama on our website.

And remember you can e-mail us at panorama@bbc.co.uk

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