A SON claims that his dying mum was dropped off at a neighbour's house like a 'catalogue package' after a mix up between Warrington Hospital and Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

Agnes Morris, aged 84, was supposed to be taken straight to a care home when she was discharged from hospital, but was driven to her empty home in Patterdale Avenue, Orford instead.

Her frantic family waited at the care home for three hours while social services desperately tried to find out what had happened to the pensioner.

By the time her family had tracked her down, Mrs Morris had collapsed and was taken back to Warrington Hospital where she died the next day from an embolism.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service maintain that they were given instructions to take her home, while the hospital claim the ambulance service should have known they were taking her to the care home.

Mrs Morris's son, Tony, said: "These are supposed to be professional people. When they discovered her home was empty, they should have radioed and found out where she should have been.

"They should not have left her with a neighbour like a catalogue package, regardless of whether the neighbour volunteered to look after her."

Mrs Morris's husband, George, said: "Nobody is willing to take the blame here, it seems everyone is just passing the buck. All we want is for someone to hold their hands up and take responsibility for what happened to my wife."

Mr Morris's other son, Ken, added: "We don't want compensation, we're not after anything like that, we just want justice for my mum."

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: "We immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into this matter upon receipt of the complaint. It was evident that the Trust was asked to transport Mrs Morris to her home address not Padgate House.

"However, on arrival the house was empty. Our care assistant team explained to Mrs Morris that she would need to go back to hospital, but she expressed that she did not wish to go back.

"This was a routine, non emergency transfer. The ambulance care team had no worry for her safety or well being as the place of care was with a trusted neighbour in a warm and secure environment on the understanding that it was for a short time."

North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust said that a formal complaint has been received and is being investigated.

A spokesman said: A duty to protect patient confidentiality and the ongoing nature of these enquiries means it would be inappropriate for the Trust to comment. However, it can state that the patient no longer needed to remain in hospital and appropriate arrangements for her discharge were made."

Verity Lockett, Patient Service Manager, said: "Naturally, we are concerned if any patients or their families are dissatisfied with the health care we provide and extend our deepest condolences to the family."