A NIECE claims the council is deliberately delaying a report on the home care her uncle received before he died.

Reginald Dean, 93, of Enterprise House, Kings Head Hill, Chingford, was receiving home care visits by council contractors Leonard Cheshire Disability when his health deteriorated and he died ten days later.

The results of a safeguarding vulnerable adults investigation carried out by Waltham Forest Council into the events surrounding his death were promised to be sent to his niece, Sue Boram, by July 16, but she is yet to receive it.

The 62-year-old said: “I don't think they want us to know what happened. They are probably worried that I could sue because it could open the floodgates.

“It is too late for my uncle, but I am concerned about all the other people Leonard Cheshire Disability are not looking after and that is why we have had to push ahead with this, because we want lessons to be learned.

“We should have had a response and so far we have had nothing and I have been pushing and pushing.”

The investigation, which has concluded, looked into whether Mr Dean missed vital medication days before he died from a chest and urinary infection.

Mr Dean was being cared for by Leonard Cheshire Disability when the company was inundated with complaints because of “teething problems” it encountered after it started the contract with Waltham Forest Council on April 21 to care for 800 disabled and elderly residents.

The company has since reported improvements in the service including fewer late appointments, but not all clients are happy.

Marilyn Willison, 56, of Ainslee Wood Road, Chingford, said the care of her 83-year-old mother, Tess Wade improved temporarily but has since declined.

She said carers often late or early and one arrived more than one hour after the allocated time to find her mother in soiled clothes.

She said: “Those people who made the decision about changing the provider need to come into the real world and see what we think about it.

“Four months down the line these problems should have been ironed out.”

“This is the worst thing Waltham Forest has done is to take on this care service."

Both Mrs Willison and Ms Boram are calling for the council to end the contract with Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Cabinet member for health, adult and older people, Cllr Liz Phillips, said: “The investigation process was complex, involved clinical staff at the hospital, and explored the full circumstances of Mr Dean’s medical condition and death.

"It was necessary to ensure that the investigation was thorough, and unfortunately it took longer than the anticipated 28 days.

“The full outcomes of the investigation will be given to Mr Dean’s family."

Cllr Phillips added that "significant progress" has since been made by Leonard Cheshire Disability to get the service up to standard.

A Leonard Cheshire Disability spokeswoman said: “The welfare of our service users remains our number one priority.

"Leonard Cheshire Disability’s role is to deliver the best service to our users as possible, to meet their needs.”