According to a report from the Royal College of Physicians, care homes have been putting elderly and infirm patients at risk by forcing them to be fitted with feeding tubes.

Tony Banks, of the Forfar-based Balhousie Care Group said: "This is appalling behaviour. I find it unacceptable that people are being treated this way."

The latest report was commissioned because doctors and other staff felt 'continuing unease' about feeding problems. It suggests large numbers of patients are being fed with feeding tubes inappropriately. Although they claim to be acting in patients' interests, their real motives may be to cut costs and save on staffing.

Many homes are said to be closing their doors to patients who do not have 'nil by mouth' tubes inserted into their stomachs.

"The care homes that are doing this are completely unethical. It disgusts me that homes are compromising the quality of care in order to save money," says Banks.

The Balhousie Care Group is worth an estimated £50million with Tony Banks its chairman and founder.

Balhousie has a vast property portfolio which is a mix of refurbished properties and new-build developments.

The group has sites spread across an area from Alastrean, near Tarland, through Angus, Tayside and Perthshire to Bonnybridge in the south.

Mr Banks is always exploring new ways of funding future development.
He believes the key to continued success is his original vision that the customer is key.

He said: "People rightly expect high standards.

"We firmly believe in personalised care, because this is each resident's home."

Recent Balhousie achievements include: Fastest growing company in Scotland 2008 - Virgin Fast Track 100; finalist; National Business Awards '08 - '09; finalist Scottish Care National Awards '08; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year '08 - '09; finalist of the Care Business Development Achiever of the Year in category of the Scottish Care Awards 2008; finalist of The Tenon Entrepreneur of the Year Award category of The National Business Awards for Scotland 2008, sponsored by Orange; finalist in the Multiple Care Home Operator of the Year category of the Scottish Care National Awards 2007.