A SPINAL injury patient claims he was neglected by carers when he was refused baths and left in pain by poor treatment.

Robert Lyus, 42, who also has skin cancer, is wheelchair bound after injuring his spine during a manual lifting accident, and relies on more than an hour of professional care each day.

The accident means Mr Lyus, of Redgrave Road, Vange, is unable to bathe himself or get out of bed.

But he claims carers from Westcliff-based Choices Healthcare often falsified timesheets before leaving his home.

He said: "I’m in a lot of pain and each day is a struggle. My condition is so severe I am unable to even wash my legs.

“My injuries mean I can’t get out of bed and I have to rely on someone helping me get into a full body hoist.

“One worker hooked me up incorrectly and hurt me – it hurt for five days.”

Carers were leaving his home after cutting visits short by up to 30 minutes and refusing to bath him, he claims.

Mr Lyus has submitted two complaints to healthcare watchdog the Care Quality Commission, which is now “closely monitoring” the private care company, but is yet to carry out a full inspection.

He added: “A couple of the carers were fine, but others were just giving me bed baths, sponging me down then leaving without carrying out their proper duties.

“They were lying about the amount of time they spent here on their timesheets.

“I refused to sign one off and I still have it here.”

Since speaking to the Echo, Choices has stopped treating Mr Lyus, leaving his disabled wife responsible for his care.

The healthcare provider maintains it provides a high quality of care, and said it is assisting the CQC with its enquiries.

Mrs Lyus, 51, who suffers fibromyalgia, a serious condition where muscle wastes away, told how she was forced to draft in family to help care for her husband.

She added: “I was often in tears over the treatment my husband received.

“He is a human and should be treated like a human.

“Because of my disability I’m too weak to move him, often I’m unable to move myself. Luckily my family were able to come over and help.”

Since contacting the Echo, Essex County Council, the authority responsible for commissioning the care, has found Mr Lyus a new provider.

A CQC spokesman said: "We are aware of concerns raised regarding Choices Healthcare in Wescliff-on-Sea.

"We are liaising with the local authority with regard to the service and monitoring the situation closely.”