Harry Denton, 81, a former chief clerk in the Army pay corps, should have been visited three times a day and had his meals and drinks provided by staff from privately-run homecare provider. But when Mr Denton did not answer the carers' knocks at the door, nobody from the company took action. Concerned relatives eventually gained access to Mr Denton’s home and found that he had collapsed on the floor. Mr Denton died a day later in hospital from pneumonia. At an inquest in Sheffield Carer Gillian Barton admitted that for three days Mr Denton did not answer the door when she and a colleague called. Coroner Chris Dorries asked her: “Did it occur to you he might be lying in the house unable to open the door?” The homecare company involved was paid £270 a week to visit Mr Denton three times a day, seven days a week. The bill was split between Mr Denton and Barnsley Council's social services department, which recommended the homecare company to the family. Commenting on the news story, Panztel spokesman Lyn Eynon said: “This demonstrates the appalling consequences that can result from a breakdown in homecare provision. I’m reluctant to comment on a story that has resulted in such a tragic outcome, but the fact remains that if the Local Authority had insisted that their providers use electronic verification of attended hours then this dreadful outcome would have been avoided. “Hopefully this desperately sad news story will act as a wakeup call to both Commissioners and Providers and will serve to bring home the urgent need for all UK Care Providers to implement some sort of electronic homecare monitoring. When you look at the costs to the taxpayer of homecare provision, then surely it makes sense to spend a relatively small amount on homecare monitoring ensuring that homecare is actually delivered. By using a service with a monthly charge equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee in a UK High Street, then avoidable deaths like Harry Denton’s could be prevented from happening again.“ Full details: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190017/Elderly-man-dementia-died-left-carers-days-food-drink-inquest-hears.html