TRAGIC mum Brenda Rowley is outraged that Health Minister Alan Milburn has named Salford as one of the top social services authorities in the country.

The Astley mother, who lost her disabled son when he drowned in a spa bath at his Eccles care home in 1998, is furious about the top-15 status.

She is so incensed that she has written to Mr Milburn, Prime Minister Tony Blair, shadow health secretary Anne Widdecombe, and Terry Lewis MP, outlining the circumstances of 30-year-old Malcolm's death, and the trauma she was put through fighting for justice for her son.

Brenda, of Whimbrel Road, Astley, wrote that Malcolm had the physical abilities of a four-month-old, and although he could not sit up, walk, use his hands, had no speech and suffered from epilepsy, his carer left him unattended, lying flat on his back in a bath while she went for a drink.

He was later found dead under the water.

Although she had to wait three years for a written apology, Brenda is still battling for a private manslaughter prosecution.

In her letter, Brenda said: "Is this the level of care we can expect from one of the better authorities?

"It is barely conceivable that after such an appalling state of affairs, Salford Social Services appointed an expert to prepare a report.

"This cleared Salford of any neglect and they then dismissed Malcolm's death as an unfortunate accident."

An inquest jury overturned the conclusions of the report and returned a verdict of accidental death to which neglect contributed.

Brenda wrote: "In essence, this verdict states that had it not been for the neglect that Malcolm suffered while in the care of Salford Social Services, he would not have died. Is this what you classify as good care?"

In 1999, the Health and Safety Executive served three improvement notices on the social services department and in April 2000, the HSE prosecuted, resulting in a £123,000 fine.

Brenda added: "The judge stated: 'Social services have been disgraced in a criminal court.' This is the same authority that you now acclaim as one of England's best. Will they be awarded three-star grade next summer? It is an outrage and an insult to Malcolm's memory that the neglect that caused his needless death can so quickly and easily be ignored and forgotten.

"Not only did we have to cope with the grief of Malcolm's needless death, Salford continued to add to my family's distress by putting us through three years of unnecessary torment.

"This is not the action of a caring organization.

"If Salford Social Services is one of our better authorities, there must be grave concern for the safety of people in the worst-performing authorities."

Cllr Peter Connor, lead member for Community and Social Services at Salford, said: "Malcolm lived happily and comfortably in one of our care homes for many years until his untimely death in 1998.

"We acknowledged at the time, and repeat now, that his death was tragic and avoidable.

"However, since then, we have been working extremely hard to improve all our services as the thousands of local people who depend on our care every day will testify.

"Alan Milburn's remarks acknowledge the very real improvement we have made for the people here in Salford."