A YOUNG man who lost the use of all four limbs was treated appallingly by Kirklees Council, according to a damning report.

The investigation released today says officials of the council rated best in the country failed to respect the views of the man’s family about adapting his home.

Local Government Ombudsman Anne Seex found Kirklees was “apparently impenetrable, insensitive and disrespectful.”

The man, known as Mr H, is in his early twenties and became quadriplegic while being treated for leukaemia in hospital in 2005.

He lives at home with his parents, older sister and foster brother who has special needs.

Mr H is unable to move and relies on his parents for feeding, bathing and toileting.

He has difficulties swallowing and breathing, and the traumatic experience of sudden paralysis has left him emotionally vulnerable.

Mr H can sit for short periods in a wheelchair but is unable to socialise outside the home.

His parents use hoists and a sling to move him and have to turn him regularly at night.

Ms Seex said his family asked Kirklees to adapt their home to meet his needs and those of the foster child.

Their requests included providing space in Mr H’s room for a second bed as he was afraid of being alone during the night because of his breathing difficulties, and providing space for his carers to manoeuvre his wheelchair.

But Ms Seex slammed the reaction of Kirklees officials.

She said: “The council’s response and practice was appalling. The council failed to provide written explanations about the adaptations process at an early stage, failed to provide a single point of contact, failed to respect the views of the family and failed to consider the needs of the foster child.”

Ms Seex added that Kirklees took 18 months to agree to an adaptation.

She said: “As a result, Mr H was largely confined to two unsuitable rooms in his home without suitable facilities for washing, or private space to talk to visiting friends, and was unable to move towards any independent living.

“His family was restricted in the use of their home and had no separate living area other than their dining room.

“They not only had to come to terms with Mr H becoming paralysed, but also had to battle against apparently impenetrable, insensitive and disrespectful decisions and processes, and had the worry of how to finance work necessary to give Mr H an appropriate quality of life.”

Ms Seex recommends that Kirklees pay Mr H £7,000 and apologise to him and his family. The report also says that Mr H’s father should be paid £1,000 in recognition of the trouble he went to in pursuing the complaint.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “The council has already taken action, and will be taking further actions, on the recommendations in the Ombudsman’s report.

“This includes payment of compensation, a personal apology and a ‘root and branch’ review of practices in the adaptations service.

“The review of practices is fully supported by the council and health

partners. A number of early recommendations will be included in a report to the Council’s Cabinet later this month.

“The agreed adaptations to the family home were completed last March.

“The Council is disappointed that the Ombudsman’s final report does not fully take account of our responses made to meeting the important and complex needs of this family.”

LOCAL Government Ombudsmen investigate complaints against councils.They are independent of the Government and don’t charge for their service.

There are three ombudsmen for England, with Anne Seex covering most of the North, including Kirklees.

The ombudsmen received more than 18,000 complaints last year.

Complaint forms are available from council offices or by writing to: Local Government Ombudsman, 10th Floor, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP.

For more information visit www.lgo.org.uk.