A SEVERELY disabled man whose care package was cut in half has won a thorough review of the decision after his case was highlighted by the Guardian.

Matthew Brook is deaf, almost completely blind and is the UK’s oldest survivor of keratitis ichthyosis – a rare condition which makes his skin thick and flaky, and leaves him needing daily checks for life-threatening cancers.

The family of the 42-year-old, of Roding Lane North in Woodford Green, is fighting to get his care package re-instated by Redbridge Council and Redbridge Primary Care Trust (PCT) after it was cut from 11 hours to just five-and-a-half hours a day.

After the Guardian reported his plight, his sister Helen Coughlan appeared on ITN and BBC national news, prompting the Government to order a re-think by the PCT.

Miss Coughlan explained: “The PCT has finally relented and allowed our complaint after the Department of Health said they have no cause to stop us making it.

“The investigation will be conducted by the PCT but I have been told by representatives from the Department of Health that they will be looking very carefully at the results to make sure everything is above board.

“It’s ridiculous that Matthew’s care package is being cut as the district nurses are not qualified to deal with his extreme complex needs.”

Mr Brook also has a serious form of autistic spectrum Aspergers syndrome leaving him with the mental age of eight or nine, as well as severely deformed feet meaning that he is forced to shuffle on his knees to move about.

His 72-year-old mother, Marion, said she was worried the care package cut would leave her unable to cope if there was an emergency at home while she was looking after Mr Brook.

And the family have the full support of their local GP and specialist doctors who are united in the opinion that his health is deteriorating and so his care needs are increasing proportionately.

A spokesman for the PCT said: “The first the PCT knew of a formal complaint regarding reductions to her brother’s care package from Mrs Coughlan was on July 9.

“This is now subject to a formal investigation. The PCT is unaware of any involvement from the Department of Health.”

The results of the review are due to be published on August 12.