Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find upsetting
The family of a woman who was found dead in her flat after a number of years has called out social services for their lack of support for a 'vulnerable person'.
Laura Winham was found 'mummified and almost skeletal' in her Surrey flat on 24 May, 2021, after her family asked police to carry out a welfare check.
The 41-year-old was said to have been 'left to fend for herself', and detailed in diary entries that she was 'starving' and 'dreaming' about food.
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An inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court has ruled that her cause of death was 'unascertained', and though it was believed that she was dead in her flat for three years, it was deemed impossible to pinpoint a time of death - though a calendar in her flat had dates crossed off until 1 November, 2017.
Today (25 February), coroner Karen Henderson highlighted that there were 'lost opportunities' for organisations to stop her death, such as Woking Borough Council, its former contractor, New Vision Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and Surrey County Council’s adult social care team.
A police referral in October 2017 resulted in the council's adult social care team writing to Winham, but did not visit her property.
Henderson did clarify that it wasn't possible to conclude that the 'lost opportunities materially contributed' to the Brit's death.
The family's solicitor, Iftikhar Manzoor, read out a joint statement, saying: “When Laura was referred to adult social care in October 2017, as the police raised concerns as to her having little food or money and being without a network of friends or family, all that happened was a letter that was sent and that was a huge opportunity missed to assess Laura’s health and to take action.
“Laura was clearly a person potentially at risk but she wasn’t deemed worthy of visiting. She was left to fend herself," they claimed.
The solicitor added: “Even her own diary entries illustrate she was unable to cope. Had adult social care visited Laura’s home within a few days of the referral in October 2017 then Laura would be alive.”
Adding that her death was 'absolutely devastating for her family, the statement continued: “Her family did everything in their power to support her as she battled her mental health struggles until it became apparent that she may harm herself unless they backed away.
“They believed Laura would be in the best possible hands when handing her into the care of professionals – people with much more knowledge and understanding of supporting those with serious mental health issues.”
The statement said that this 'was not the case', and that 'the safeguarding review made it clear that Laura was never failed by her family.'
Her family had last seen her in person back in 2009, with contact on social media halting in 2014 after she sent a message asking for 'minimum/no contact', due to her mental health difficulties.
They claim that they did the right thing in giving her space and not being in contact with her, but still drove past her flat to check that her car was still outside.
The executive director of adults, wellbeing and health partnerships at Surrey County Council, Claire Edgar, issued an apology as Laura didn't get 'the support she needed', calling the death a 'terribly sad case.
“I know that the service has worked hard to act on learning from this case. Since joining the council last year, my focus has been on making sure that the significant improvements the service has made in recent years are maintained and built upon.” she said.
Henderson also claimed that Woking Borough Council and New Vision Homes should have flagged her as vulnerable, so that she could have got further assistance, while adding that the DWP should have been 'more proactive' after her
Disability Living Allowance benefit was stopped.
LADbible has contacted Surrey County Council for comment.
Topics: Mental Health, UK News, Health
Joshua Nair