AN independent report which raised major concerns about Bradford's home care system has been scrutinised by councillors.

Council bosses were quizzed last night about what action they were taking in light of the report, which highlighted that some carers brought in to help elderly people in their own homes struggled with basic household tasks like cooking or making a bed.

A lot of people had positive things to say about the staff and their work, the report by health and social care watchdog Healthwatch said.

But another common theme were concerns about late, missed or rushed appointments, the Council's Health and Social Care overview and scrutiny committee heard at a meeting at City Hall.

Healthwatch has set out a nine-point improvement plan for Bradford Council and the dozens of private firms it commissions to provide the care.

Andrew Jones, manager of Healthwatch Bradford and District, said the Council had accepted the report and the recommendations in full, which he was "delighted about".

But he said the Council hadn't yet set out in detail what action it was taking.

Councillor Ralph Berry, portfolio holder for health and social care at Bradford Council, said it was a useful report and the local authority was committed to making improvements.

He said: "In accepting this we didn't say, 'That's the end of the discussion'.

"It would actually be unfitting to say we could say now what all that would be, because it's quite a detailed piece of work."

Scrutiny committee member Mike Young said: "It all comes down to this dilemma that the most vulnerable people in out city, in our society, are actually being supported by some of the lowest paid and least trained workers.

"That's not any criticism of any of the workers, but it is a real dilemma. It's a real issue."

Konrad Czajka, of the Bradford Care Association, said his organisation represented 17 separate care providers, who welcomed the report as they were "passionate about the quality of care".

He said providing home care was becoming "increasingly more complex" as they were providing services once provided in nursing homes.

And he raised concerns about the £12.50-an-hour rate the Council paid firms to provide home care.

He said: "We need help to carry on because believe me, it doesn't matter how many providers you think you have today.

"If you don't do something, soon they will be gone."

The committee also discussed an inspection of Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's hospital, published earlier this year.

The Care Quality Commission had judged Bradford Teaching Hospitals to require improvement.

Members heard understaffing had been a problem at both hospitals and they discussed how Bradford Council could encourage more people to consider a job in healthcare.