A DISABLED man, paralysed from the neck down, claims he was left at risk after a care agency sent a teenage cleaner to look after him, instead of a trained carer.

John Lloyd, 63, almost died in a brutal assault six years ago and now relies on three staff for round-the-clock care.

But when one went on holiday, a nurse from the agency charged with providing back up care failed to turn up.

John who needs assistance to get out of bed, was helpless. He said: "The agency left me for dead, not even calling to tell me she wasn't coming."

At Cornerstones Nursing and Domestic Agency in Goosnargh, part-time clerk Elaine Taylor had been left in charge.

She said: "I had no-one to call on. The manager was away, the owner was not there and I had Mr Lloyd screaming down the phone at me.

"In desperation I sent a young cleaner to sit with him. I know it was wrong but what else could I do? I shouldn't have been left in that position."

Cornerstones admits the youth sent to cover for the missing carer was inexperienced but rejects Mrs Taylor's claims.

Owner Julia Brook said Mrs Taylor was employed as assistant manager and had been supervised throughout the episode: "She behaved in a totally unprofessional manner," she said.

Mrs Taylor of Hillside Avenue, Fulwood, Preston, has since left the job. Mr Lloyd found emergency care with another agency.

A Social Services' Inspection Unit has investigated Mr Lloyd's complaints. They said it is 'still taking up the recommendations arriving out of the (Mr Lloyd's) complaint with the agency concerned'.

Chair of Social Services Councillor Joan Humble said: "Private sector care is a matter of serious concern."

She said they had applied for some form of national standards for private care to be set up. There are statutory rules for residential care but not for domiciliary care.

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