Why was gran left to rot?

Proud gran Margaret Smith looked good for her 93 years as she went into a five-star care home to give her family a respite break.

But when Margaret - born in one world war and married in the next - returned home a week later she was virtually dead. She had severe dehydration, a chest infection, pneumonia, a collapsed lung and had suffered a major stroke.

Her shocked granddaughter Tracey Blackwood and daughter Phyllis say they had to force open her lips to give her fluids. Margaret was taken to hospital where, according to her family, the A&E doctor estimated she had not drunk for four to five days. A consultant said she had not eaten for several days. Margaret died two days later.

Now social services chiefs have launched an investigation into the pensioner's stay at the home where, her family suspect, she was put in a room and simply left to rot. Tracey, 44, said: "According to the home she was in good health when she left them. Yet half an hour later when Gran arrived home she was half-dead.

"She was paralysed down one side and unable to utter a word. "Yet the home told us that she had a cup of tea just before she left and had verbally thanked staff for looking after her and waved goodbye. "We find that an incredible statement to make. It was clear she hadn't drunk for some considerable time, couldn't speak and she was in no state to wave to anyone when she got to us." Ashton Lodge care home at Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey had been carefully chosen by the family from an approved list given by London's Richmond council last July.

(PIC: Matt Sprake/NEWSPICS)