Barely half of care services required to make urgent improvements by a watchdog are doing so, it has emerged.
Figures from the Care Inspectorate, which regulates services from old people's homes to childminding, show that targets are being missed for responding to official requirements - usually imposed after faults are found at an inspection.
The Inspectorate's annual report notes that 54 per cent of services are meeting such requirements within the necessary timescale, down from 62 per cent the previous year and well short of a target of 80 per cent.
Complaints from the public about care services rose by 20 per cent last year, but only 1.5 per cent were upheld.
More than 4,500 people contacted the watchdog with concerns about care services.
However the number of complaints had been boosted by an advertising campaign encouraging people to contact them, and the rise in concerns was not a sign the quality of care has fallen.
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's public services spokeswoman said: "I welcome the additional publicity that the Care Inspectorate have engaged in by encouraging people to come forward. But it is slightly worrying when services are found to be wanting and they don't appear to be enforcing their own requirements as robustly as they should."
The organisation inspects nearly 14,000 care services across Scotland including care homes, nurseries, childminders and housing support services. Its annual report reveals that 92 per cent are rated as good, very good or excellent for the quality of care on offer.
The number of people who contacted the Care Inspectorate with a concern was 4,505 in 2014-15, compared to 3,788 the year before. The main reasons for complaints were because of someone's care and welfare, poor communication by staff or staff shortages and staffing levels.
The number of complaints upheld was 1,147, an increase of 1.5 per cent compared to 1,129 the previous year.
Karen Reid, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate added: “This report shows the high levels of quality in care across Scotland, but there is no room for complacency.
“Over the last four years, we have seen the quality of care in Scotland improve, although there are a small number of services which are not operating at the level we demand."
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