Jane Kennedy, MP

JANE Kennedy has demanded an inquiry into why 21,000 calls to a Liverpool Careline have gone unanswered.

The Wavertree Labour MP has branded the Liverpool Direct phone line 'DontCareLine' after the shock figures were revealed.

More than 6,000 calls to a Childrens Line were abandoned in the last six months after callers could not get through.

Another 15,000 calls to a separate Adult Line were abandoned in the same period.

Local residents have complained to Jane Kennedy that they have had to wait for more than half an hour for their calls to be answered.

Jane said:"I am horrified that local people who are phoning Liverpool Direct to report a child at risk or an elderly neighbour in need of help, simply cannot get an answer.

"It is very worrying that the city council cannot provide such a basic service, particuarly in the wake of the Baby P case.

"It is a deeply shocking situation. We do not know how many times the cries of a child have gone unheard because of the failure of the system."

Care staff warned that the service would suffer when the city council transferred it to Liverpool Direct, a joint venture between the council and BT, last August.

It is not clear how much the council is paying Liverpool Direct to provide the service.

But Jane added: "A lot of questions need answering about this service and why Liverpool Direct is failing to provide what the people of Liverpool have a right to expect.

"We cannot tolerate this any longer when the lives of children and the most vulnerable elderly people are being put at risk by such incompetence and mismanagement."

Jane has written to the Children's Minister, Bev Hughes and Minister for the Elderly, Phil Hope highlighting her concerns and demanding assurances that action will be taken.

• The council's web site boasts that Careline is an "award winner" and adds "Careline staff are here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Watch the BBC TV North West Tonight report 'Callers ditched careline'.