AN investigation has been launched after an 81-year-old woman fell into a diabetic coma after a carer failed to visit her Radcliffe home.

Great-gran Lily Dunthorne is supposed to be visited at 8am each day by a carer who will help her get dressed, feed her, and hand her the needles she needs for her insulin injections.

But on Wednesday, October 29, the pensioner was found unconscious when a second carer called at 1pm.

She had suffered a hypoglycaemic attack because she had not eaten.

Her family say the paramedics who gave her emergency treatment at the scene, said she would have died if she had not been discovered until later in the day.

And they demanded answers from Enterprise Homecare, the Manchester-based care service provider which has looked after Miss Dunthorne for several years, claiming it wasn’t the first time a carer has failed to visit, despite Miss Dunthorne paying hundreds of pounds each month for the service.

Her granddaughter, Cara Galloway, said: “I am absolutely outraged and angry that this was allowed to happen. She is an old woman and relies on the carer to help her do basic things like eating. She could have died if she had been in the coma any longer.”

The 17-year-old met with staff from Enterprise Homecare to discuss what happened and they are now looking for another care provider to look after Miss Dunthorne.

Cara, who lives in Bolton, said: “I can’t trust the company to look after my grandmother. How can I be sure that carers are going there each day?”

Bury Council commissions Enterprise Care to deliver the care services required by Miss Dunthorne to maintain her independence and wellbeing at home.

A council spokesman said: “On the morning of October 29, a carer employed by Enterprise, failed to attend Miss Dunthorne’s home.

“The carer did attend as required at the lunchtime visit, and as a result of her concerns as to the condition of Miss Dunthorne, the emergency services were called. “Bury Council’s adult care services procurement team have investigated this situation and undertaken an unannounced Quality Assurance Review. In total two missed visits have been reported by the family and as soon as the Procurement Team became aware of this they contacted Enterprise.

“Enterprise were asked to respond as to why the visits were missed and a representative from the company said she would contact the family to arrange a meeting to review their concerns and agree a plan with the family to resolve the situation.

“Bury Council understands that this meeting with Mrs Dunthorne and her family has now taken place and there was agreement to put a plan of action in place to ensure that the package of care in place meets Mrs Dunthsorne’s individual needs.

“Enterprise have no records of the carer stating that she was unable to attend the early call and are currently investigating how this has happened.

“The council has requested feedback by November 26 on actions taken.

“The family did raise concerns with adult care services about the time Mrs Dunthorne received care.

“It was found that no other provider could offer the preferred call time of 8am.

“The council continues to look for other service provides who can supply the preferred time slot and once this becomes available the package will transfer.”

A spokesman for Enterprise Homecare told the Radcliffe Times that they endorsed the statement by Bury Council and did not wish to comment further.