A care worker has resigned after a damning documentary on the way the agency she worked for looked after the elderly.

Julie Taylor handed in her notice at Medichoice in Portland Road, Hove, the day after watching a BBC Panorama investigation.

Mrs Taylor, 36, said she grew increasingly frustrated with the system and felt she was prevented from providing elderly people with the care they deserved.

An undercover reporter from Panorama gained a position with Medichoice using a false CV.

She was given just a few hours' training before being sent out alone to care for elderly people.

The programme, broadcast on November 16, recorded a supervisor using derogatory words to describe clients. She was sacked.

Mrs Taylor, who started working at Medichoice in 1999, said: "The documentary was the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm sick of having to cut corners, leaving people's homes without giving them proper care."

She did not feel action was being taken by the company or by Brighton and Hove City Council to improve the service.

Mrs Taylor, of Baden Road, Brighton, was also angry about having to pay £20 for a parking permit needed to visit older people and for petrol.

Medichoice managing partner Katherine Conradi said agencies were not given funds for travel.

She added: "Since the Panorama programme we have had several meetings with social services."

Denise D'Souza, the city council's acting director of community care, said: "We have set up a helpline on 01273 295314 for anyone who is concerned."

Discussions were under way on monitoring the training of new care workers.

One of Mrs Taylor's Medichoice clients, stroke victim Peter Bennett, 70, said her help and that of another carer had been invaluable.

He said: "They are not just carers but friends."

Since April, care agencies have had to register with The National Care Standards Commission.

Medichoice and Anchor Care, in Western Road, which also featured in the documentary, have both applied to be registered.