EXCLUSIVE: Family slams Glasgow council as fire leaves vulnerable man fighting for life

A man in critical condition in hospital following a fire at a block of flats in Glasgow on Sunday night should not have been living there, according to his family.

46 year-old Thomas Joyce is in an induced coma in intensive care following the blaze at his flat in Tinwald Path in Cardonald. It took emergency services three days to extinguish.

However, Clyde News has been given exclusive access to documents which show Thomas is both physically and mentally unable to care for himself following an accident when he was 14 and needs “constant care”.

His family says they have made upwards of 12 requests to Glasgow City Council to house him in more suitable accommodation, with round the clock care, since 2018 and are accusing the local authority of failing in their duty of care.

Thomas’ family says he meets all three tests under the Adult Support and Protection Act 2007, and is classed as an ‘extremely at risk adult’ by his medical team.

Thomas used to live in the flat with his father, who died suddenly four years ago.

Clyde News also understands that on the day of the fire, Thomas’ carer, who visits for one hour each day, was unable to come and see him due to Covid staffing issues and he was therefore alone all day.

'We've been reaching out for support'

Thomas’ family member told our chief reporter Natalie Crawford-Goodwin: “He is profoundly disabled with a complex brain injury but is an absolute diamond of the earth.

“He is completely dependent on services for every aspect of his needs. He was a successful footballer when he was only 14-15 and played for Celtic Football Club but he was involved in a horrendous hit and run since then it’s just been horrendous.

“I've been struggling to support him, but we love and care for him and have been reaching out for services to help care for him and support us.

“Sadly, Thomas’ father died very suddenly, four years ago and he was left in that flat that we watched go up in flames on Sunday night. We reported it to social services hundreds of times that he was there on his own and shouldn’t be. Hundreds of times.

'They knew this was going to happen'

“He’s been to stay with family members but it’s not the best place for him, he needs proper care and attention from proper services, and they've done nothing. Formal adult support protection legislation has been in place for at least two years. He's registered with the Office of the Public Guardian Welfare Commission, and a psychiatrist has deemed him incapable and put it in writing to social services, but the City Council have done nothing.

“They knew this was going to happen and now my brother is on a life support machine because of this. The family have raised what they call ‘adult support and protection concerns’ the highest concern you can raise at least 12 times and his GP has also done so at least three times. This is the highest legislation that Scottish Government put in place for vulnerable adults. Social services have not even phoned any family members since Sunday. They had him as a ‘John Doe’ at the hospital. He was dying and we didn’t know until the police notified us on Monday afternoon.

“My brother had 19 epileptic seizures last year and several hospital admissions. They know he's got these brain injuries and seizures. They do nothing. He has two hours of support a day and with COVID he had nothing. Everyone… police, even the fire service has raised concerns in the past about Thomas’ safety and nothing has been done. I don't know what else to do. We don't know what else to do.

“They should have taken onboard seriously the medical assessment which clearly says in writing that he was incapable of any cognitive decision making or cognitive capacity. Again, that was taken to them last October 2021.

“We have begged, and we have pleaded for accommodation for him with twenty-four hour support. I've sent emails to the Chief Social Work office, Glasgow City Council, I have even tried to get in touch with the director. All we wanted was for Thomas to have a good quality of life. And for us as carers under the legislation to be supported. They haven't. For Thomas to be in a safe accommodation would be the best outcome. And it's not an unreasonable request.”

We’ve asked Glasgow City Council for comment.

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