A depressed disabled dad neglected by untrained carers who forgot to give him medication and kicked soiled bed sheets into his kitchen was billed thousands of pounds for care he didn’t receive.

The man, from Wirral, was stung with a £26,000 care bill for treatment which put him at “significant and avoidable risk of harm” over an 18 month period, a watchdog has found.

A report, from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsmam (LGO), said carers cut short their visits, were not trained properly and signed for medicine they did not give him – putting the man at risk of seizures.

Head of the LGO Michael King said it was “too late” to remedy the injustice caused to the man because he has since died, but blasted the local authority for failing to take appropriate action when his family began complaining about the quality of his care.

The man’s son, referred to as Mr X in the report, raised a number of concerns about the home care service provided by Wirral Council, and the amounts he was being charged for it.

The son said his dad was “disabled, depressed and not in a fit state to deal with the council about payment of services” – which were costing a staggering £1,500 a month.

He said he had no problem paying for the care if the price was appropriate and justified, but complained of a number of safeguarding issues relating to his father’s care package.

Complaints listed by the son included eye drops not being administered, his father not being strapped into his wheelchair properly, and workers not washing up after meal times or dealing with soiled clothes hygienically.

For example, the son said a carer kicked soiled bedding into the kitchen, left used incontinence pads in open bins and put heavily soiled clothes in the washing machine without soaking.

He also raised concerns about invoices for his father’s care, and the threatening letters his father was receiving about payments, which he said were inaccurate.

He said shortcomings in the care left his father, who had significant difficulty with mobility and completing daily living tasks,”distressed and disappointed”.

However, investigations into these issues were delayed, inadequate, or closed without being completed, the LGO found.

The concerning report, published last month, said a review conducted by Wirral Council found a shortfall of 579 hours and 19 minutes in the man’s care package because of care visits being cut short.

The council admitted there had been “clear failings” in the service, but still advised the son the outstanding balance for his father’s care package exceeded £26,000.

It was then that he went to the LGO, who ordered the council to waive half the fee and pay the son £200 to remedy the frustration and stress the situation caused him.

The LGO also recommended the council ensure all relevant staff receive safeguarding training and develop an action plan to improve the complaint handling procedures.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:“When relatives raise concerns about vulnerable people’s care, it is of paramount importance that councils act promptly to ensure people are safe. Regrettably, in this case this did not happen, and the father was left at risk for far too long.

“Unfortunately, we cannot now put this right for the father because he has passed away. But the measures I have recommended to the council should improve procedures to prevent instances such as this from happening to others.”

A spokesperson for Wirral Council sadid the local authority offered their “fullest apologies” to the family and has made significant improvements since.

He said: “Wirral Council offers its fullest apologies to this family. The Council has accepted the findings of the report and is implementing all the recommendations made by the Ombudsman.

“The authority has since significantly improved the way domiciliary care is managed and kept under review to accommodate changes in circumstances and ensure care packages meet people’s needs as they change over time, and the level of care commissioned is appropriate to the needs of each individual who receives this care.

“The Council’s aim is to ensure each of those who receive domiciliary care have their needs fully met by a care package which works flexibly to meet their specific needs, and that if there are complaints these are dealt with quickly and fairly. We accept that in the case highlighted by the Ombudsman this did not happen. We apologise for this and can reassure residents that we have comprehensively reviewed and improved our complaint handling procedures.

“We also accept the Ombudsman’s recommendation to waive 50% of the care fees owed by the family and make an additional payment of £200 to remedy the frustration and stress it caused them. In light of the issues raised by the Ombudsman’s investigation the Council has also worked closely with care providers who work on our behalf to ensure staff are fully trained in safeguarding and administering medication to ensure that now and in the future these issues are dealt with promptly and appropriately.”