Woking council apologises after physique lay in flat for 3 years

A council has apologised after one in every of its tenants lay lifeless in her Surrey flat for greater than three years.

Laura Winham, 41, was discovered lifeless in her flat in Woking by her mom and brother in Could 2021.

Following the conclusion of the inquest into Ms Winham’s demise on Tuesday, Woking Borough Council apologised for failings inside its housing service.

“The tragic occasions that led to her demise and the missed alternatives to find her physique ought to by no means have been allowed to occur,” stated Louise Strongitharm, the council’s strategic director for communities.

Ms Winham was a susceptible lady with schizophrenia who had twice been sectioned and had lower ties together with her household as a result of she thought they have been making an attempt to hurt her.

The inquest heard how Ms Winham’s physique was “mummified and nearly skeletal” when it was discovered at her council flat in Devonshire Avenue.

Her trigger and time of demise couldn’t be decided however a calendar within the flat was crossed off till 1 November 2017.

Ms Winham’s mom and brother discovered her stays after making an attempt to make contact when her father’s well being was deteriorating.

Coroner Karen Henderson stated Woking Borough Council, its former property supervisor New Imaginative and prescient Houses, the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Surrey County Council had all missed alternatives to assist Ms Winham.

Responding, Ms Strongitharm stated: “We want to prolong our deepest sympathies to Laura’s household.

“Woking Borough Council accepts the coroner’s findings and people of the Surrey Safeguarding Grownup Overview, which recognized failings inside our housing service alongside shortcomings by different companies. For that we’re really sorry.”

Ms Strongitharm stated the council is dedicated to addressing the problems raised and has begun to implement modifications.

She stated the council introduced its housing companies again in-house in April 2022 to have higher management over the way it helps susceptible tenants.

Claire Edgar, government director of adults, wellbeing and well being partnerships at Surrey County Council, additionally apologised.

“I’m sorry Laura didn’t get the assist she wanted and I do know that the service has labored exhausting to behave on studying from this case,” she stated.

“We are going to fastidiously contemplate the coroner’s findings in order that every part potential is completed to guarantee that our follow is pretty much as good as it may be.”

The coroner stated the DWP ought to have acted after Ms Winham’s Incapacity Residing Allowance profit was stopped as a result of she didn’t apply for a Private Independence Fee.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the DWP advised the NEWSTORN its condolences stay with Ms Winham’s household.

The division has launched new steerage on how you can safely cease funds to susceptible claimants, the spokesperson added.

New Imaginative and prescient Houses was contacted for remark.

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