AN APOLOGY from NHS bosses after the death of Connor Sparrowhawk came "too late", his stepfather has said.

Yesterday afternoon a unanimous jury at Oxford Coroner's Court concluded that neglect had played a part in the death of the 18-year-old, who drowned in the bath in July 2013 after an epileptic fit.

At the time he had been at a Headington care unit, Slade House in Horspath Driftway, run by Southern Health NHS Trust.

Following a statement issued by the Trust in which chief executive Katrina Percy said she was "deeply sorry", stepfather Richard Huggins said: "It's too late.

"What would really be an apology now is if they started to treat people in their care properly."

Speaking at the close of a two-week inquest, the jury said there had been "very serious failings" at the Short Term Assessment and Treatment Unit (STATT) at Slade House, "both in terms of systems in place to ensure risk management, and care of patients with epilepsy."

Although Connor had a seizure in January 2013 - his first for more than 18 months - his epilepsy had not been properly risk-assessed on arrival to the unit that March.

It was also found that training for staff in epilepsy was "inadequate", and the lack of sight and sound checks while he was bathing was a "serious omission" in care.

A spokeswoman for the family said: "Patients shouldn't have to fight for justice and accountability from the NHS. The treatment of learning-disabled people more widely should be a matter of national concern."

After Connor's death a campaign called Justice for Laughing Boy - referencing Connor's nickname - was formed from family, friends and other organisations.

Paul Scarrott, a trustee of charity My Life My Choice, which supports people with learning difficulties in Oxford, sat in the public gallery throughout the two-week inquest.

He said: "It was a good result. I think there should be lots of improvement, more training and more research. It's shocking that this happened."

The family were represented by Paul Bowen QC, who said following the verdict: "It's wonderful for the family to have some vindication.

"Neglect is a very strong term. That was about the strongest conclusion that the jury could have reached."

At the closing of the inquest, coroner Darren Salter said he would be publishing a Preventing Future Deaths report setting out recommendations for the Trust.

It will focus on improving observations around bathing and epilepsy, and ensuring that information be logged on the NHS electronic logging system RiO.

Katrina Percy, chief executive of Southern Health, said: “I am deeply sorry that Connor died while in our care. We did not keep him safe and his death was preventable.

“The Trust has strengthened its clinical leadership in Learning Disability services. We have also implemented mandatory comprehensive epilepsy training for all our staff caring for people with learning disabilities.

"We now have an Intensive Support Team across all of our learning disability services, enabling us to support more people to be cared for at home.

“We decided to close the Short Term Assessment and Treatment unit where Connor died at the end of 2013. The closure is now permanent."