A WOMAN who was landed with a £3,000 bill for failing to give “notice” that her dad was going to die has won her battle against the charges.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Sue Cann, 54, of Christchurch, branded Highcliffe Nursing Home, run by Kingsley Healthcare, “outrageous” for asking for a full month's fees.

In a letter she received the day after her father Kenneth's funeral, Sue was told “a notice period of four weeks (28 days) is required in event of a resident moving out or passing away”.

But now Sue has been told that only seven days' fees need to be paid.

She said: “What they've done is they've decided to reduce it from 28 days to seven and I think that's much better. I'm so pleased.

“I'm quite happy to have a week's money, obviously there's a certain amount of paperwork and other stuff involved, but a whole month was beyond the pale.

“I call it my David and Goliath moment. If you feel there's something wrong, instead of just rolling over and accepting it, challenge it.

“That's the only way rules and policies can change.”

Mr Cann had dementia and died on January 30, aged 79. In all, his 17 months of care cost £63,000.

Daya Thayan, CEO of Kingsley Healthcare, said: “I deeply regret any distress caused to Mrs Cann and can confirm that we are in contact with her so that we can resolve her particular concerns.

“Charging for notice periods is standard industry practice and is necessary to allow care homes to keep rooms available for access by families to remove personal possessions before arrangements are made to re-let the accommodation.

“However, this unfortunate incident has prompted me to take personal charge of a review of our procedures and to reduce our notice period on contracts in the event of a death to just seven days, which is less than the industry standard. We will also be extending the period of time we leave after the death of a resident before issuing a notice letter to the next of kin.

“Kingsley Healthcare is proud of the quality care we provide to over 700 residents in 23 homes. We therefore intend to work with the National Care Association to establish guidelines on the sensitive issue of notice periods and to urge others to follow our lead in setting the standards.”