Care workers are under investigation after allegedly throwing the belongings of their longest-serving patient in a skip when she died.

Former celebrity PA Elizabeth ‘Betty’ McKay’s irreplaceable family photographs were thrown out within days, her son told Your Local Guardian.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “It’s outrageous. After 16 years, they just threw it all in a skip as if it’s rubbish. It’s disgraceful. It broke my heart.”

Southdown Nursing Home, in Dorset Road, Sutton, has launched an internal probe following his complaint.

Betty, 99, who died in late October, was the former personal assistant of Kojak actor Telly Savalas, who would send Andrew boxes of the lollipops he famously sucked in the 1970s hit American cop drama.

Your Local Guardian: Andrew Bartley, pictured with his mother Betty McKay, said he was 'heartbroken' when he learned her belongings had allegedly been thrown in a skipAndrew Bartley, pictured with his mother Betty McKay, said he was 'heartbroken' when he learned her belongings had allegedly been thrown in a skip (Image: Andrew Bartley)

The belongings allegedly thrown in a skip included a personally autographed photograph of Mr Savalas, who also played villain Blofeld in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

“That’s gone,” said Andrew. “Just thrown.”

Also missing are several other priceless mementos, including a photo of Andrew crossing the finishing line at the 1993 London Marathon.

“When she passed away, I went up there and everything was still there,” said Andrew. “But my head was spinning. I didn’t want to take them right at that moment.

“When I went back up there, they gave me two bin bags – one full of clothes, the other full of books that weren’t hers.”

When Andrew queried where the rest of Betty’s property was, he said, staff could not find anything else.

Your Local Guardian: Betty McKay was a former PA to Kojak actor Telly Savalas, her son Andrew said, and the belongings thrown out included a personally autographed photoBetty McKay was a former PA to Kojak actor Telly Savalas, her son Andrew said, and the belongings thrown out included a personally autographed photo (Image: PA Media)

They invited him to search his mother’s former room at the home, but he found another resident had already been moved in and there was no trace of his mother’s missing mementos.

Stumped staff then telephoned the member of staff who had cleared out the room, he claimed, and spoke to her on speakerphone.

“She said, ‘I threw them in the skip’,” Andrew alleged. “I said, ‘Who told you to do that?’ And she blamed another nurse, who I know. I know she would never have done that. She is a lovely lady.

“After that phone call, all I got was a sorry. It grates on me that my mum’s life was reduced to just a bin liner, like it wasn’t worth anything.

“It’s not cheap, being in that home. It’s about £900 a week, and she was in palliative care in the end, so it was even more, and then they just give you a bin liner and say goodbye. I was so angry. She was their longest-serving resident and that’s how they treat her.”

Your Local Guardian: Southdown Nursing Home, in Dorset Road, said it had launched an internal investigation after Betty McKay's belongings went 'missing'Southdown Nursing Home, in Dorset Road, said it had launched an internal investigation after Betty McKay's belongings went 'missing' (Image: Google Streetview)

The home said it sent its sympathies and condolences to Betty’s loved ones.

“She was the longest-serving resident in our home and held in deep affection by all who knew her,” it said in a statement.

“We believe we delivered an excellent level of service and care to Elizabeth during her residence at the home since her arrival in 2007.

“We fully understand that the loss of her personal property will only add to the distress and grief being felt at this time.

“We are undertaking our own internal investigation into this matter to establish the full facts.

“We wish to make it very clear that no member of staff at Southdown Nursing Home would be instructed to dispose of the personal property of a resident in the manner suggested, regardless of its perceived value.

“We will take disciplinary action against anyone giving such an instruction or disposing of personal property.

“This is an internal HR matter for Southdown Nursing Home, but you can rest assured that we shall take the appropriate action if any wrongdoing in this case is properly established and, if so, we will review our policies and procedures to ensure it can never happen again.

“In the meantime, Southdown Nursing Home is determined to continue to provide the best possible care and service levels and we will be happy to talk to Elizabeth’s family or any resident, family member or carer who has any concerns in respect of this case.”