HOME care services for old and vulnerable people could be affected after the future of a leading care provider was thrown into doubt.

The Care Quality Commission has confirmed there is a “credible risk” that Allied Healthcare services in Wiltshire and 81 other authorities could stop next month due to its high debts.

The regulatory body for home care services says that the service has not provided any information on how it will fund services from next month.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We are aware of this situation and are working closely with Allied Healthcare to ensure people continue to receive the care that they need, that’s our number one priority. Customers and their families can be reassured that we are monitoring the situation and will respond quickly to any developments should the need arise.

“We are happy to speak to anyone who is concerned about their care arrangements, whether they pay for the care themselves or it is funded by ourselves.” A spokesman from Allied Healthcare said the CQCs assessment of the business was “premature and unwarranted.”

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care at the Care Quality Commission, said: “They have failed to provide adequate assurance regarding future funding.”

A spokesman from Allied said: “We are surprised and deeply disappointed by CQC Market Oversight’s decision, which we regard as premature and unwarranted.

“We have demonstrated throughout our discussions with the regulator that Allied Healthcare’s operations are sustainable and safe, that we have secured a potential replacement of our credit facility, that there is no risk to continuity of care.”