A MAJOR overhaul of care services must be made by Glasgow city council, claim staff and clients at care provider Cordia.

In the last year, the Evening Times has highlighted a number of cases where Cordia failed to provide a service to vulnerable clients, some of whom were left for hours without help.

Home carers were moved to a seven on-seven off shift pattern in June 2015, sending the service in to meltdown within days of it being introduced.

Bosses said at the time the new rota would provide clients with "greater continuity of care" and vowed the service would improve once the new pattern "bedded in".

Now staff and clients have called for Glasgow City Council to introduce vital changes to the service should they take on responsibility for home care provision.

Frances Smith previously raised concerns about care for her diabetic mum after she went without care for 17 hours one one occasion, and had reported at least 16 other missed visits from Cordia carers.

Frances, 59, said: "There have been too many apologies and something different needs to happen.

"Glasgow City Council must look at what they are able to provide.

"A lot will depend on whether the council get it right, and if it's the same management.

"If all it is is a different name, that would worry me."

Frances added that since she raised her concerns in the Evening Times, her mum's care has been "excellent" but said she would be concerned if there were changes to the individual carers who come to visit, due to her mum's dementia.

The daughter of 74-year-old Margaret Matts also said she hoped the local authority would improve the service should it take control.

Jane, whose mum Margaret was previously left lying in bed for hours when carers didn't turn up for their appointment, said: "I think before [the service] became Cordia it ran much better.

"It was relatively new to our family anyway, but I'd hope the council would do a better job of it.

"This is a chance for them to sort out the issues which were happening before."

Two members of staff echoed their concerns, but admitted they were not aware of the plans.

One employee, who has been with the firm for more than five years, said: "Whatever happens, it has to get better than it is now. Things must change, they need an overhaul.

"We [the staff], never get told anything until the last minute. There were rumours that this might happen, but nothing has been told to us."

Another home carer, who has held her post since the service was previously controlled by the council, said: "Cordia has just made a mess of everything, so hopefully it will be better going under the council.

"I don't know if it will be the way it was under social work before, but hopefully, if they are going to do that, it would be better.

"When I first started...it has changed so much since then.

"It's not the same anymore, you're not treated the same.

The carer said she hoped she would be given more time to spend with clients if the council were in charge, adding: "I'm just in and out with them at the moment, I hardly get to spend any time with them and some of them need much more time than I have.

"I'm hoping this will change things. It's just terrible now, hopefully if it goes back to the council hopefully it will be a lot better

A council spokesman said: “A range of options to meet the savings target is being considered for inclusion in the council’s budget for 2016/17.

"Until then, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific proposals. Councillors will consider the budget at a meeting of the full council on 10 March.”