A father-of-seven who died with horrific bed sores after a lengthy hospital stay was given substandard care, health chiefs have admitted.

Barsey Spencer, 88, was also wrongly booked in for cremation at the Royal London Hospital as staff believed he had no family – despite the fact he had been visited by loved ones every day for five months.

He died from advanced Parkinson’s on March 30. His family were on good terms with his ward staff, so when they were told about the mix-up they were furious. Barsey even had a burial plot waiting for him next to his late wife.

Daughter Yvonne Spencer, who lived with her father in Sandringham Road, Dalston, first complained about his treatment when he developed the huge sores. She said the eventual cremation blunder was further proof of how badly he had been looked after.

“In this day and age, in London, my father was being treated like he’s from a third world country,” she told the Gazette.

By the time Yvonne, 50, was given an update on the sores investigation, Barsey was dead.

Only then did the ward manager write to her apologising for the delay. She had made the complaint eight weeks earlier.

The hospital is now investigating the cremation mix-up as well.

Barts Hospital Trust, which runs the Royal London, said: “We extend our sincerest condolences to Ms Spencer during this difficult time.

“In February Ms Spencer raised concerns about her father’s care and was supported by the ward manager who addressed the issues discussed.

“We apologise that instances of care fell below the high quality we aim to provide.”

The sores investigation will be completed at the end of April, a spokeswoman said.

It is not known how Barsey came to be booked in for cremation.

The spokeswoman added the Royal London would “not request cremation until every avenue to trace family has been exhausted”.