Health inspectors are to mount spot checks on NHS hospitals after finding hundreds of older people being treated without dignity or adequate privacy on wards across England.

The former children’s minister Margaret Hodge told a jury yesterday that she was “shocked and distressed” when two members of Fathers4Justice handcuffed her as she spoke at a conference in Manchester.

The collapse of state-subsidised home help has pushed up the number of people going into care homes, figures revealed yesterday.

{mosimage}And the withdrawal of free mealsonwheels and help with washing, dressing and shopping means the trend will accelerate, says an expert report.

The projections from care industry analysts Laing and Buisson back widespread predictions that many more people will be unable to escape ending their lives in care homes. Help the Aged spokesman Annie Stevenson said: “We and a lot of other people have been predicting this for a long time. The crisis is now upon us.

“People need to think now about how they are going to pay for help in their old age.

“Otherwise they will be living in care homes and likely to have to sell their own homes to pay the bills.’ Gordon Lishman of Age Concern said: “Failure to invest in social care services is short-sighted.

“Without practical help older people can end up needing higher levels of care – including going into a care home.”

Hospitals and care homes are to face a major inquiry into the way frail elderly people are allowed to go hungry.