Ex-Liverpool footballer's family say he was neglected and left in zombie-like state with unexplained injuries at NHS mental health hospital before he died aged 84

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The family of former Liverpool FC footballer Frank Lockey (pictured during the 1957-58 season) have called for an independent inquiry into his death, claiming he was 'neglected' by hospital staff

The devastated family of a former Liverpool FC footballer have demanded an urgent inquiry after he was neglected and left in a 'zombie-like state' in an NHS mental health hospital that was 'dirty and unhygienic'.

Frank Lockey, 84, was found dead in his chair at Julian Hospital in Norwich on 24 August.

His family claim he lost almost three stone in weight, was 'over-medicated' and often found him sitting in the dark in soiled clothes.

They said conditions in the hospital were even worse than a prison.   

A spokeswoman for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust said it would not comment on individual patient cases. 

However they said a new manager was appointed at the Hammerton Court dementia care unit, at Julian Hospital, following a Care Quality Commission inspection in May.

The change was made after a surprise inspection carried out following 'concerns raised by a member of the public', found some care records contained incorrect medical information and that staff did not always include safety information on recent falls by patients.

Mr Lockey, originally from Dumbartonshire, was signed by Liverpool in 1956 and moved to Norfolk in the 1980s. 

His family claim his health deteriorated because of a lack of care, and have called for an independent inquiry into both his death and the safety of current and future patients.

He was admitted to Julian Hospital on February 7 with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Mr Lockey's daughter, Tina (left) and his wife Margaret (right) have claimed he was neglected

His family claim he suffered from a number of unexplained injuries. 

His daughter, Tina, 48, said: 'I was in there every two days because I didn't feel he was being cared for. He was neglected, 100 per cent. 

'They didn't write down in their care plans or their skin inspection sheets.

'The neglect was daily. The ward was always dirty...they were told to wear nappies, even though they were continent.

'My dad would not wear one of them, he was a dignified man. But they just made him and all the patients wear nappies.'

Miss Lockey and her mother Margaret began attending carers meetings at the hospital.

Mr Lockey suffered injuries and lost almost three stone in weight, his family claim

They said the families of other patients had similar concerns to theirs.

Miss Lockey said: 'There was never an answer. Falls, and dressing concerns, were never followed up.

'Incidents were unseen - and falls were unseen. We didn't know what happened at night, because we were never there.

'He was always scared. We used to say 'are they hurting you?' and he would say 'yes'. They had no compassion. I didn't feel safe leaving him there. Every day I came home and cried.

'He was 'zonked' on medication, and often wouldn't remember we'd been in'.

Mr Lockey's family say he suffered bruises and cuts while a patient at Julian Hospital, Norwich

Mr Lockey's wife of 53 years, Margaret, said four official complaints were made to NSFT but said she received no official explanation for his injuries.

In one complaint, their daughter Tina Lockey wrote of 'concerns about unexplained injuries, neglect and lack of transparency'.

She said: 'It was rose in there than it would be in a prison. It's a cruel place to be in if you're a patient.

'We often wanted to bring him home but we were not allowed because he was sectioned due to his mental health, because of the dementia.'

Mr Lockey's daughter, Tina, inspects the shrine in her back garden in memory of her father 

The NSFT spokeswoman said: 'We cannot discuss individual cases due to patient confidentiality, particularly when they are the subject of an ongoing complaint or upcoming inquest.

'The trust has been in contact with the service user's family on a regular basis and we are happy to meet with them further, should they wish to discuss their concerns.

'Immediately following a CQC spot inspection at Hammerton Court, in May, a new manager took up their post and initiated a complete turnaround in staff leadership on Reed Ward.

'Any concerns raised by the CQC at that time were immediately addressed.

'Hammerton Court works with patients with dementia who are at the most unwell end of the spectrum and who need to come into the unit for short term stabilisation if they are in mental health crisis or distress and agitation.

'At times, people with these forms of dementia can self-harm or even hit out at others through fear and confusion.

'When this occurs they can then sustain minor injuries.

'This can be exacerbated if they are on forms of medication which leads to easy bruising, such as blood thinning agents.'

She added: 'For patients who are undergoing extreme agitation, fear or distress some medications are prescribed to alleviate these symptoms, to make them more comfortable and to keep them safe.

'Although we cannot discuss individual cases, in general people with advanced forms of dementia, such as Alzheimers, can sadly become incontinent.

'For the sake of their own cleanliness and to maintain their dignity, they may need to wear incontinence underwear.'

A Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) investigation in May concluded that there were no hospital records of Mr Lockey's alleged injuries (pictured: the Julian Hospital)

In December last year the trust was fined £366,000 for health and safety failings after dementia patent Joan Darnell, 78, drowned in a bath at Julian Hospital in 2014.

The trust was placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2015, but was taken out of special measures in 2016. 

The cause of Mr Lockey's death was given as dementia and heart disease, which his family have disputed.

An inquest into his death will take place in February.

Mrs Lockey said: 'I just want justice for Frank and for the other patients. I want something done about that hospital.'