THE council has admitted a number of failings in the home care a man received before he died – but deny missed medication led to his death.

Ninety-three-year-old Reginald Dean, Enterprise House, Kings Head Hill, Chingford, died from a a urinary and chest infection, ten days after home carers from Leonard Cheshire Disability failed to administer his medication for a urinary infection for two days running.

A subsequent investigation by adult services, which contracted the service to the agency, concluded that there is “no evidence” of a link between the missed medication and his death.

But the council admits that the handover of the home care contracts to three new service providers in April led to a “poor standard of service” for an “unacceptable number” of its 800 disabled and elderly residents.

The report also concedes that there was “medication recording issues”, a lack information about the home care Mr Dean required and and poor communication between providers before the handover day.

A complaint made by Mr Dean's niece, Sue Boram, to the council prompted the safeguarding vulnerable adults investigation, the results of which were returned seven weeks after they were promised.

The 62-year-old said: “ I am surprised that it was not thought to be important that his medication was missed for two days.

“I'm not a medical expert, but I was under the impression that it was critical to take the complete course of antibiotics.”

Ms Boram was told that that since April, adult sevices have met regularly with all three providers, are addressing issues raised in the investigation and have clarified protocols and terminology around medicine administration with health partners and home care providers.

The 62-year-old has arranged to meet with an adult services representative to discuss the outcome of the investigation further.

She added: “I hope it has done what I set out to to achieve. It looks like they will tighten up their service which is what needs to be done.”

As part of the investigation, representations were made by staff from Whipps Cross University Hospital where Mr Dean died, district nursing, adult social care, Leonard Cheshire Disability, former carers Chrysalis Care and the police.