A SPA-based health agency claims backlogs caused by the vetting of staff is hitting the recruitment of local nurses and care workers.

Abacus Care, in Friar Street, says that the problems facing the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) could cause a crisis in nursing homes unless it speeds up the time it takes to screen applicants.

At the moment checks, which should take three weeks, are taking six weeks or more and sometimes applications are completely lost in the system.

Sue Rickwood, Abacus' care manager, said the vetting process for teachers at the beginning of the new term had made an already shambolic situation worse.

"It is about time someone accepted the CRB just isn't providing a satisfactory service," she said.

"It was heralded as an agency which would prevent unsuitable people from working with young and vulnerable people but if this mismanagement is not rectified quickly, employers could be forced into taking a risk and hiring unchecked staff." The CRB was set up by the Government through a £940m private finance initiative.