A BOLTON doctor has blasted moves to stop home carers giving out headache pills -- and even sugar -- as "absolute stupidity".

Dr Adrian Lamb claims new rules brought in by Bolton's Social Services are "an insult to its staff".

Care workers are already threatening a mass demonstration over separate moves by the council to privatise some of the service.

And Dr Lamb has now raised fresh concerns that home carers -- who often have so much responsibility that they have their own keys to get into a pensioners home -- are not being allowed to administer a headache pill, or even sugar.

"It just isn't logical. These home carers have considerable responsibility. They are the only point of contact for many of these vulnerable old people who build up trust. Carers often have a key to the house.

"This new ruling is absolute stupidity. It is an insult to the home carer. If they can make a cup of tea with sugar in it, then they can certainly give out Lactulose."

Dr Lamb, from Heaton Medical Centre, says issues allowing carers to administer medicine has been a bone of contention between chemists, doctors and social services for some time.

He also slams plans to privatise the service claiming many old people are vulnerable and had built up relationships with social service home carers.

Dr Lamb, who feels so strongly he is demanding answers from the Director of Bolton's Social Services, said: "I am fed up of asking social workers about this issue.

"I have got to the stage where I feel I can only get answers by asking at the top. Why have they brought in these new rules?

"I am afraid the decision of social services to forbid their home carers to administer lactulose to those under their care is one of the most ludicrous decisions I have ever encountered."

Meanwhile, fears have been voiced that hundreds of Bolton's elderly will suffer if home care is switched to non-qualified private staff.

Whistle-blowers fearing for their jobs contacted the BEN accusing Bolton Council of "keeping the town in the dark" about changes which are effecting the vulnerable housebound.

The home care service, run by the council's social services department, will shift part of its service to the private sector by April 2002.

Bolton Council says this has been on going since the government urged all social services departments nationwide to contract out work.

Yet, social services staff fear for their jobs and for many elderly residents who they say are already very confused and vulnerable.

Andy Robertson, Bolton's director of Bolton Council's social services, says: "We fully understand the issue that Dr Lamb refers to. We are currently looking at the protocol and seeing whether the arrangements can be made more flexible. We will be meeting personally with Dr Lamb. We are always looking at ways to improve the service."