A MOTHER says she has been left heartbroken, claiming care home bosses have blocked her from seeing her daughter in person for more than a year.

Jean Abbott says The Oaks Care Home, in Oaks Drive, Lexden, has turned the family away when they have attempted to see daughter Tracey and hung up the phone on them.

She claims £50 sent in a padded bag to her 52-year-old daughter was also never handed over and instead confiscated.

The care home, which looks after up to 61 people who require residential or nursing support, has strenuously denied the claims, however, stating it has an open door visiting policy.

Jean, 79, who is housebound in Colchester and has no easy way of getting out to visit Tracey, said: “I’ve got no idea what is going on.

“When I call the home they ignore it or say someone will call back – they never do.

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“I’m getting run down, worrying this much is not doing me any good. I’m a pensioner and I can’t get out to feed myself, I’m disabled and don’t need this awful extra stress.

“When you give birth to a child you love them so dearly you just simply can’t rest and allow this to happen. It’s running me down terribly.”

Jean said her son-in-law has managed to occasionally access his sister-in-law Tracey but was left gravely concerned after saying she could now be weighing up to 30 stone.

When contacted by the Gazette, the Oaks Care Home, which was rated good at its last Care Quality Commission inspection, said it had received no complaints from the family or from the resident themselves.

A spokesman said: “Our care home operates an open door visiting policy for the loved ones of all our residents. We encourage the loved ones of all our residents to make regular visits, and our staff do everything they can to facilitate this.

“Drop in visiting is available to anyone who wishes to make a visit between 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and we operate a booking system to accommodate weekend visits.

“Our only requirement is for visitors to comply with our Covid-19 policies, including registering a negative Covid-19 lateral flow test before entering the home.”