A DEDICATED 77-year-old disabled woman who refused to leave her dying partner’s side is now paying the price after receiving allegedly "abominable" care and racking up £2,000 in debt.

Angela Horsnall, who lives at Jubilee Court in St Faiths Road, claims she is forced to survive on just 15 minutes of care a day and lives on Pot Noodles. 

Ms Horsnall, who suffers from Crohn's disease, arthritis, brittle bone disease, diabetes, asthma, damaged nerve and back problems, moved to Alcester a year ago after her partner of 19 years, Robert Sterling, died of cancer.

She claims she has been "penalised" as she refused to leave Robert at their home in Manchester but signed the lease on the retirement property in Alcester when it became available as she feared she would lose it. 

Ms Horsnall said: "I couldn’t leave him alone to die. I wouldn’t leave him – I am not a nasty person."

Because of this she is now in debt, owing housing provider Orbit £1,300 and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) £700. 

About three months ago, she stopped receiving care from a family member and began receiving support from home care provider Helping Hands but claims she never gets a bath, her bed linen changed or a home cooked meal as her carers do not have the time. 

Ms Horsnall called the care that she, and others, receive "abominable".
"I only get 15 minutes of care a day - that is not enough," she said. 

"It is a nightmare." 

"I have nobody to help me, whatsoever.

She added: "I have just almost thrown up after having another Pot Noodle, I am just so sick of them. 

"I have not had a shower for months or the sheets on my bed changed.
"I had one shower by my son's girlfriend, but I have not had a bath in so long. I use dry shampoo on my hair but I can't just keep sticking it on my head."

For the last two weeks she says she has been "forced" to sleep on the couch as she maintains her home is infested with bugs- one of her biggest phobias. 

Fumigators were recently sent to the property by Orbit Housing, despite the fact they say this is normally the responsibility of the customer. 

Ms Horsnall said all she wants to do now is to move to Stoke-on-Trent, where she has lived for most of her life.

Recently, she was told she would be able to move on October 3. 

A Helping Hands spokesman said: "Helping Hands provide some care to customers whose call length is governed by the local authority, although we cannot comment on any individuals personal care needs we are passionate about delivering a quality, person centred service that enables individuals to remain at home."

Warwickshire County Council deal with the provision of care services in the county. 

A County Council spokesman added: "Our aim is always to support people to remain in their own home and live independently for as long as possible. Support will often involve a mix of care - some commissioned by the county council and some provided informally. When a customer's situation changes, including things such as changes in informal support from family or friends, we will review that support.Customers are encouraged to let us know of any changes which might affect them."

Carol Barthorpe, head of independent living at Orbit Heart of England, said: "Managing issues of bugs and insects is normally the responsibility of our customers. However, to put Ms Horsnall’s mind at ease we sent a pest control specialist to her home to investigate. He was not able to find any major issues, but fumigated her bungalow as a precaution."