War veteran trapped for four days

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/norfolk/7453061.stm

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A disabled war veteran lay trapped under a chair for four days after care workers at a sheltered housing scheme failed to check up on him.

Les Jackman, 89, collapsed after suffering a suspected stroke.

He lay without food and water until his relatives found him at his flat in Windmill Court, King's Lynn, Norfolk.

The sheltered housing scheme admitted failing to tell Mr Jackman's family that the warden responsible for daily calls had been signed off sick.

Mr Jackman's throat and mouth were covered in blisters from severe dehydration and he had pressure sores across his body.

'Extreme neglect'

His relatives were warned to prepare for the worst when he was rushed to hospital.

But Mr Jackman, who lost his hearing from a shrapnel injury in World War II, has made a good recovery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn.

His niece Brenda Lowes believes he is lucky to be alive and accused his carers of "extreme neglect".

Shop worker Ms Lowes, 65, said: "When I found him lying there I thought I was having a bad dream.

"He was in his pyjamas and he had a beard. As soon as I saw that, I knew he hadn't only been there since the morning. I was absolutely horrified.

"It would've taken a staff member less than minute to pop their head round the door and check he was okay."

The sheltered housing scheme is run by housing association Minster which is part of housing provider Hyde Group, based in London.

Ms Lowes, of King's Lynn, who visits her uncle every Saturday and Sunday, said she would have visited more regularly had she known no-one was checking on him.

Emergency alarm

A spokeswoman for Hyde Group said that in place of daily checks by a warden, a member of staff was keeping a daily sight log of residents.

She admitted that Mr Jackman had not been seen since 3 June and said no alarm was raised because he was "active and often out".

She said residents had been offered a neck pendant emergency alarm which Mr Jackman had declined.

Letters informing residents of the changes had been sent to all residents - but not family members.

The spokeswoman added: "Residents of Windmill Court are independent responsible adults and treated accordingly."

Windmill Court contains 49 one-bed flats. It was opened in 1986.