An Isle of Wight carer has told the County Press that she was left with no choice but to break the rules when one of her clients suffered severe chest pains.

She got a call from a woman for whom she regularly provides care and rushed round to find the vulnerable Islander in pain.

The carer called an ambulance and notified her employer, but she says she was told to leave because she was not insured to be there.

The carer says she left in tears, but returned a short time later to wait for the paramedics, knowing it was best for her client.

The Isle of Wight is among many places fighting the care crisis.

The council says it needs hundreds of people to move into the industry to fill vacancies.

It is a rewarding career, the carer told us, but she understands the frustration of colleagues.

She said: "I enjoy helping those who can't help themselves and I get a great deal of satisfaction from it. That's what caring it all about.

"It's not something I thought I would be able to do - but I am doing it."

"I'm also having to overcome obstacles and fight all the time.

"It's making me stressed, angry and upset.

"I've seen girls that want to do the job become frustrated and leave, or let go for little reason.

"It's getting to a point where I don't know if I can continue."

This week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a hike in national insurance, to make up for the budget shortfall.

However, the crisis, according to the Islander who has worked in the industry for a few years, is mainly down to managers who "have no idea what's going on."

She told us: "The problem is the companies that don't know how to treat their staff.

"We've had carers who have left due to working too hard and not being listened to.

"This is not my first care company. They are all the same.

"They give you hours without telling you.

"They keep taking on new clients and we haven't got the staff."

On top of the long hours, she says rotas feel like a box ticking exercise - to suit the company and not the client.

She told the County Press about a person who is diabetic but who has been allocated a lunch visit too late in the day.

She has been fighting for the appointment to be changed and has started visiting outside the official contract hours to try to help.

For another client, she has helped organise a social worker, as well as support from occupational health.

She says this would not otherwise have happened.

The carer warns many vulnerable people are falling through the net.

She said: "Managers are in the office, ticking off numbers and not getting to know the clients.

"It's down to each company to get to know them - what they want and what is best for them." 

The carer says managers need to get to know clients and their needs personally, saying many carers are too afraid to speak out.