Inquiry call after death of D-Day hero

Calls have been made for a full inquiry following the death of a Blackpool D-Day veteran who died after suffering burns when he was left overnight in a chair next to his fire.
Coun Maxine CallowCoun Maxine Callow
Coun Maxine Callow

Dennis Oldland, 94, of South Shore, had been visited by a carer from Safehands Ltd, a firm contracted by Blackpool Council to provide care.

An inquest heard she only stayed seven-and-a-half minutes, instead of the recommended 25 minutes at least.

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Mr Oldland, who was only partially clothed, remained in the chair overnight and is thought to have suffered a mini stroke.

He died in hospital last November 10 days after the incident.

After details of the death emerged following an inquest, Coun Maxine Callow has now called for a full report to be made available to all councillors.

She told a meeting of full council: “I want to know what steps are going to be made to check the level of care given to our vulnerable elderly people, who most of the time have no-one to turn to but this council for care, and how many are left in a state like this?

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“In this day and age it is absolutely disgraceful and I want a full report for all the councillors.”

Cabinet member Coun Graham Cain said all the council’s care providers were monitored and a service review had been started as soon as the incident came to light. He said the report would be made available to councillors.

Following the inquest, Blackpool coroner Alan Wilson recorded a narrative verdict, and said the carer’s visit was “inadequate” but fell short of neglect.

He said it had not been “appreciated” that Mr Oldland was in a confused state.

Safehands could not be contacted but has previously said it accepted the coroner’s findings.