A YOUNG Leigh mum-of-two has called for an investigation into her father's treatment at Leigh Infirmary - over two years after his death.

Wigan and Leigh College administration student Kathryn McGinty, of Tennyson Avenue, claims that three months ago she wrote to the NHS Trust concerned about the alleged lack of care her father, James McGinty, received while on ward 10.

She maintains that her divorced dad, who died at the age of 52, was an in-patient on the psychiatric ward at the Charles Day Centre from around June 1995 to May 1998.

She said: "He suffered from bad depression and had attempted suicide on a couple of occasions, but I don't think he got the help he needed.

"I was left with the responsibility of looking after him because even though he had asked to be admitted for his own safety in May 1998, they let him down.

"They told him they would admit him, then they changed their minds, sending him home on a downward spiral of no hope.

'I found my father in his Coral Grove flat on May 19 1998. He had taken a massive overdose of medication that wasn't properly monitored, even though he was at risk of taking his own life.

"He died in North Manchester Hospital on June 15 all because his cry for help wasn't heard and because he was turned away from the hospital.

"It has taken me so long to seek an answer because I have been suffering from depression myself.

"I expressed my own concern to the hospital regarding his care, but they weren't interested.

"Now they won't give me a reason for the bad care he received. All I want is an answer and not to be ignored."

A Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust spokesperson said: "Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust is concerned about the issues raised by Miss McGinty and is taking them very seriously.

"The Trust can confirm that there has been a delay in responding to her letter and apologises for this.

"However, because the issues described by Miss McGinty three months ago date back to between 1995 and 1998, it has taken longer than expected to investigate the matter thoroughly.

'The Trust has acknowledged her correspondence and a second letter has been sent to apologise for the delay.

"Miss McGinty will receive a letter of full explanation by the end of the month."