Doctors and nurses are striking for better pay.

But what about their colleagues in care homes? Senior reporter John Nurden finds out...

Madge Potter is 101. She has had a long and eventful life but is now suffering from dementia and is bed-bound in a care home.

Her son Gordon, a retired prison plumber, pops in to see her every day.

"It serves two purposes," admitted the 69-year-old. "The first is to see my mum, obviously. But the second is to help the staff. If I can feed my mum, it frees them up to help someone else.

"They are always busy and never stop. They are so professional and have to do some pretty horrible things.

"They do such an important, vital job and work just as hard as nurses in hospitals. But they are Britain's forgotten heroes. They never seem to get the recognition they deserve."

His sentiments are echoed by Sharon Cordrey who manages Oakdene Rest Home on the Isle of Sheppey.

Her bosses at family-run Sohal Healthcare have just agreed to give staff a pay rise. It works out at 8p an hour above the minimum rate.

Sharon, who has been in charge at the home in Minster Road for six years after working for Medway council, said: "We are very lucky with our owners but social care seems to be low on everyone's priorities – until they need it. We are now facing a 150% increase in gas and electricity prices from £2,000 to £4,500 a month. I just don't know how we are going to cope."

It is a story mirrored in hundreds of care homes across the country

Oakdene is a bit like Doctor Who's Tardis. From the road it looks like an ordinary, although larger than average, detached house. But behind the facade is a catacomb of corridors which stretch back into another building and a new extension.

It has 27 residents and 34 staff including Sharon and her deputy Julie Keyse. Both are happy to roll their sleeves up to do some cleaning when the going gets tough.

"We never use agency staff," said Sharon, who lives in Rochester.

But the home has embraced diversification. Most of its team live on Sheppey but come from all walks of life.

They include Filipinos and Albanians. Reshmaya Limbu is from Nepal. Leanne Ward, 30, began as a cleaner a year ago but is now studying to become a healthcare practitioner.

She said: "It's a tough job and can be challenging dealing with people often at the end of their lives. But it is also very rewarding."

Chef Alex Hennell is deaf. Sharon said: "We've learned sign language and have bought him a pager so he knows when the fire alarm goes off."

She added: "We don't call our staff carers. We call them healthcare practitioners. It seems to give them more pride.

"They are not in a union but even if they were, I couldn't see them voting to go on strike."

Despite the pressure on budgets, Sharon is having to dig deep to replace a set of patio doors recently damaged. That's why staff are so delighted when relatives leave gifts or donations.

"I know we are a business but these donations really help to pay for little extras for the residents," she said.

They have had gifts of a CD player, a bench for the garden and, of course, flowers and chocolates.

The home is currently trying to raise £5,400 for a dementia Jolly Trolley which is a self-contained mobile interactive entertainment centre. Think karaoke on wheels.

As Madge Potter's son said: "You just don't think of care homes until you need them.

"When my mum was in hospital I was suddenly told she would not be going home and that I had to find a home for her.

"Where do you start? I was given a list of homes and had to ring round and then visit them.

"Mum has been here for five years and now needs a hoist to move her. But the staff are wonderful.

"It breaks me up that social care seems to be the forgotten health service."