POLICE failed to respond to calls from carers worried about a vulnerable client for more than five hours.

Police were called after care workers couldn’t access the home of the 65 year-old woman in Glasgow at 12.43 on Friday February 24 last year.

They said they could her the woman’s mobile ringing inside the home.

Two police decided not to force entry to the house when they attended after speaking to their supervisor and woman’s daughter. Instead it was decided to wait until carers were due to return at 5pm.

However, when carers called back Police said there were no officers available as they were dealing with priority incidents.

Care staff called four more times in the evening as did the woman’s daughter who was concerned.

It was not until after 10.30 pm that police arrived at the address and forced entry ten minutes later to find the woman dead.

A toxicology report listed the cause of death as Dihydrocodeine, tramadol and amphetamine intoxication but the time of her death could not be determined.

The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner investigated the case and found there was a “lack of focus and prioritisation” and there were errors by the area control staff meaning no police were sent to the home until 21.24 but they didn’t arrive until more than an hour later.

The report stated: “It could not be established that if entry had been gained to the woman’s house earlier, she would have been found alive.

The report concluded “Staff in the ACR failed to follow standard procedures and showed a lack of focus in ensuring the 999 call was followed up correctly. This included a failure to get supervisory approval to defer the 999 call until later.”

Police Scotland said improvements have taken place since the incident.

Superintendent Norrie Conway, of Professionalism and Assurance, said: "Our thoughts remain with the family involved and we sincerely apologise for the distress caused by our failings.

"The recommendations made in the PIRC report have been implemented and there is also a welcome recognition that the force has made significant improvements in its working processes when dealing with vulnerable people since the tragic incident took place.

"Continually improving the service we deliver to our communities remains a priority. We have delivered bespoke training to over 1000 area control room and service centre staff, and the importance of dealing with risk and vulnerability at first point of contact continues to be highlighted through training, briefings and one to one meetings."