I write with reference to your news item last week regarding the Avonpark Care Home. This distressing story first appeared in the Mail on Sunday newspaper the previous weekend. After my attention was drawn to the article, I immediately emailed Mrs Maggie Rae, the Director of Public Health for Wiltshire, to ascertain her reaction and to establish that no Wiltshire funded residents were at risk as a result of the alleged mistreatment.

Within the hour, Mrs Rae replied to me advising that her team had been assisting the care home staff since the Friday afternoon prior, and that she had visited the complex herself and spent some hours on site on Sunday ensuring that correct procedures were in place and that no residents were at risk. I consider that the speed of response and the action taken by Wiltshire Council was appropriate and exemplary.

The ultimate body with responsibility for ensuring that high standards of care are maintained in care homes is the Care Quality Commission. I understand that the CQC is now engaging with the owners and managers of Avonpark to ensure that acceptable levels of care are being provided and that all residents of Fountain Place are treated with respect and dedication. Any disciplinary issues in respect of staff will be a matter for the management team at the home and, if necessary, the police.

In conclusion, I believe that no carer should be employed and set to work without adequate training. The journalist who wrote the story apparently had minimal training and no experience in the role of carer. That seemingly exposes a recruitment problem or poor management (or both). We must all hope that the CQC comes up with the answers and we are not faced with more damaging allegations in Wiltshire, or wider afield, in the future.

Graham Payne, Wiltshire Councillor for Trowbridge (Drynham), Dursley Road, Trowbridge,