![\"Wilma](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_hscp.png\")
Wilma Telford said she is constantly watching her back. (Image: Andrew Cawley)<\/p>\nStaff are demanding Glasgow\u2019s health and social care partnership listen to their concerns.<\/p>\n
12:16, 08 Nov 2025Updated 12:23, 08 Nov 2025<\/p>\n
Wilma Telford said she is constantly watching her back. (Image: Andrew Cawley)<\/p>\n
Terrified home carers<\/a> in Glasgow have claimed that they face threats, abuse, and assaults while working at night. The life-line workers are calling for greater protection from authorities.<\/p>\n Staff held a torch-lit rally outside the city chambers<\/a> on Thursday night, November 6, urging Glasgow\u2019s health and social care partnership (HSCP) to take action, reports Glasgow Live.<\/a><\/p>\n Members of the mostly-female workforce<\/a> described being intimidated by men and feeling relieved \u201cto get home in one piece\u201d after their shift has ended. One union organiser said workers would consider industrial action if the HSCP doesn\u2019t listen.<\/p>\n Wilma Telford, who has worked in home care<\/a> for 18 years, said: \u201cIt has always been a worry when you are out alone, niggling at the back of your mind, but things have gotten a lot worse.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are incidents in every area, all the time. You walk between visits at night on edge, holding onto your phone in your pocket, looking around to see if anyone is behind you. It can be dark and deserted and you feel totally alone. It preys on your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n One of her colleagues said she was approached by a man while working on Sunday. \u201cHe came out of nowhere, right in my face, asking for money,\u201d she said. \u201cIt felt like a mugging.<\/p>\n \u201cI told him I had none and tried to walk past but he kept blocking me, asking if I had a bank card, saying we could go to a cash machine. I showed him the badge on my uniform, said I was working and pushed past him and got away but I was trembling. It is really upsetting.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother time, I was walking to a visit and this man passed me and said \u2018Watch out you don\u2019t get raped tonight.\u2019 It took me a second to take it in, then I just started running. It shakes you up for hours.\u201d<\/p>\n GMB Scotland said its recent survey revealed 89 per cent of the women felt scared while working alone while almost half had endured intimidation, abuse or violence.<\/a><\/p>\n One worker told the union: \u201cI\u2019ve had teenagers throwing fireworks at me, shouting abuse, and men will just stand and stare at you from top to bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n Another carer said she was parked at traffic lights at 7.30am on a quiet street when a man tried to break into her car window with a screwdriver.<\/p>\n Another member said: \u201cI was waiting in my car to go into flats one night and a gang started banging on the roof and shaking the car. I was terrified. You just feel relieved to get home in one piece.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokeswoman for the HSCP said the GMB has yet to provide details in relation to their concerns. Risk assessments are carried out regularly and personal attack alarms<\/a> are provided, she added.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Pensioner dies after horror three-vehicle crash in Scots town<\/a>READ MORE: Mums who endured ‘hell’ in maternity units welcome probe into Scottish services<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking at Thursday\u2019s rally, GMB organiser John Slaven said: \u201cWe\u2019ve given notice\u2026 that we need change. If we don\u2019t get change we won\u2019t be demonstrating, we\u2019ll be taking industrial action. Lone working is on the way out. It\u2019s not if, it\u2019s when. This is the start.\u201d<\/p>\n The union wants the HSCP to pair-up staff, provide more back-up and supervision, change rotas and offer pool cars. Its campaign comes after police figures<\/a> recently revealed an increase in rape and sexual assaults in the city.<\/p>\n Frances Stojilkovic, the GMB\u2019s home care convenor at Glasgow City Council<\/a>, said: \u201cNo one should be expected to go to work feeling afraid and return home relieved to be safe again. They need better protection and support and they need it urgently.\u201d<\/p>\n The HSCP spokeswoman said: \u201cThis is a long-standing issue for the GMB and yet they have still not provided us with the details in relation to their concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the majority of our homecare staff live in the streets and the communities they work and are therefore familiar with the surroundings, we do have a range of policies in place to ensure lone workers are safe in their working environment \u2014 including mobile phones, personal attack alarms, monitoring from a designated team, and contact with a co-ordinator throughout the working period.<\/p>\n \u201cThe service routinely carries out risk assessments and maintains ongoing consultation with frontline staff and recently pioneered an emergency alert so carers can call on emergency services or support teams.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, we operate a fleet of over 300 support vehicles across the city, available day and night to provide backup and assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere lone working is deemed inappropriate, a comprehensive health and safety risk assessment is undertaken to ensure alternative arrangements are made.\u201d<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_hscp1.png\")
The women protesting outside the city chambers. (Image: Andrew Cawley)<\/p>\n