Thirteen 'safeguarding' calls a day in Sunderland

NHS Digital figures show 4,780 concerns of abuse – over 13 a day – were raised about adults with care and support needs in the city in the year to March – up from 3,310 in 2020-21.

Physical abuse was the most frequently mentioned reason – making up 40% of all calls.

Across England, 541,535 abuse concerns were raised last year – a nine per cent increase.

If councils believe a person with care and support needs is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, they must carry out a Section 42 inquiry to determine whether they need to take action.

Sunderland City Council completed 1,935 such inquiries in 2021-22 – up from 960 in 2020-21.

Nationally, the data shows a person's own home was the most common location of the risk – making up just under half of all inquiries.

Age UK said some older people are being let down by a care system that has failed to protect them.

Charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Any abuse of older people is intolerable and there must be zero tolerance of any abuse whether through neglect, financial manipulation or physical or mental cruelty."

She said staff shortages might be leaving the system ill-equipped, with record vacancy rates for manager roles in care homes particularly worrying.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "The Government has made sure that across the country, the police, councils and NHS are working together to help protect vulnerable adults from abuse or other types of exploitation.”