This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/16/council-staff-report-woman-left-to-starve

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Council staff face action after report into care of woman left to starve Council staff face action after report into care of woman left to starve
(about 20 hours later)
Two council workers have been suspended and face further disciplinary action following a report that found officials had failed to care for an 81-year-old woman who died after being left without food or medication for nine days.Two council workers have been suspended and face further disciplinary action following a report that found officials had failed to care for an 81-year-old woman who died after being left without food or medication for nine days.
Questions have been asked about whether one member of staff attempted to cover up the oversight, recording details on an official log of a telephone call she said she made to the frail widow – a telephone call that according to the report is not recorded on either the council's or the woman's telephone records.Questions have been asked about whether one member of staff attempted to cover up the oversight, recording details on an official log of a telephone call she said she made to the frail widow – a telephone call that according to the report is not recorded on either the council's or the woman's telephone records.
The serious case review into the death of Gloria Foster, published on Monday by Surrey Safeguarding Adults , says council officials neglected to make alternative care arrangements when the care company looking after her was raided and closed down by immigration officials.The serious case review into the death of Gloria Foster, published on Monday by Surrey Safeguarding Adults , says council officials neglected to make alternative care arrangements when the care company looking after her was raided and closed down by immigration officials.
Surrey county council apologised for its failures and said disciplinary action would be taken against two members of staff who had already been suspended.Surrey county council apologised for its failures and said disciplinary action would be taken against two members of staff who had already been suspended.
Friends were distressed and angered by the report. Vivien Saunders, one of Foster's oldest friends, described the findings as disgraceful: "They said they had been in touch with her but they sat on their hands and didn't do anything. That they have tried to cover it up, that's appalling. I just find it shocking negligence."Friends were distressed and angered by the report. Vivien Saunders, one of Foster's oldest friends, described the findings as disgraceful: "They said they had been in touch with her but they sat on their hands and didn't do anything. That they have tried to cover it up, that's appalling. I just find it shocking negligence."
Carefirst24, the care company responsible for visiting Foster four times a day to feed and care for her, was raided by the UK Border Agency on 15 January this year after allegations that the firm was employing illegal immigrants. The company was subsequently closed down.Carefirst24, the care company responsible for visiting Foster four times a day to feed and care for her, was raided by the UK Border Agency on 15 January this year after allegations that the firm was employing illegal immigrants. The company was subsequently closed down.
Foster was discovered by a district nurse, who was making a routine visit to her home, nine days later. The review states that the nurse found Foster in a "very poor physical state".Foster was discovered by a district nurse, who was making a routine visit to her home, nine days later. The review states that the nurse found Foster in a "very poor physical state".
It read: "She was cold, lying partially off her bed, which was sodden with urine and faeces, and she appeared dehydrated with cracked lips. The ambulance crew were unable to record a blood pressure or find a radial [wrist] pulse, indicating that her blood pressure was extremely low." She was suffering from serious bed sores.It read: "She was cold, lying partially off her bed, which was sodden with urine and faeces, and she appeared dehydrated with cracked lips. The ambulance crew were unable to record a blood pressure or find a radial [wrist] pulse, indicating that her blood pressure was extremely low." She was suffering from serious bed sores.
The UKBA liaised with officials from both Surrey county council and neighbouring Sutton council before the raid in order to pass on details of all the clients on the care company's lists and give them time to arrange alternative care.The UKBA liaised with officials from both Surrey county council and neighbouring Sutton council before the raid in order to pass on details of all the clients on the care company's lists and give them time to arrange alternative care.
Care was put in place for everyone except Foster, who was extremely vulnerable and entirely dependent on the visits from carers, a service she was paying for privately. A line in the official log – written the day after Foster had been found starving and close to death, and when the case was already headline news – stated that a call had been made to her home, and noted that there was no response, but records showed that no such call was made.Care was put in place for everyone except Foster, who was extremely vulnerable and entirely dependent on the visits from carers, a service she was paying for privately. A line in the official log – written the day after Foster had been found starving and close to death, and when the case was already headline news – stated that a call had been made to her home, and noted that there was no response, but records showed that no such call was made.
The serious case review panel has concluded that this discrepancy about phone calls "should be the subject of further Surrey county council investigations".The serious case review panel has concluded that this discrepancy about phone calls "should be the subject of further Surrey county council investigations".
Even if the call had been made, the social worker involved seemed "negligent" in not following up the call, in failing to contact Foster's attorney who was responsible for overseeing her care, and in failing to consult Foster's files, which stated clearly that she had dementia and would not have been able to look after herself, the report concluded.Even if the call had been made, the social worker involved seemed "negligent" in not following up the call, in failing to contact Foster's attorney who was responsible for overseeing her care, and in failing to consult Foster's files, which stated clearly that she had dementia and would not have been able to look after herself, the report concluded.
"This is not professionally defensible," the report states. "That Mrs Foster's file was not consulted, even on a cursory basis, prior to attempting any telephone contact, is a basic omission alien to good social work practice.""This is not professionally defensible," the report states. "That Mrs Foster's file was not consulted, even on a cursory basis, prior to attempting any telephone contact, is a basic omission alien to good social work practice."
The senior Surrey council official responsible for setting up alternative care noted on the records on 25 January: "T/C [telephone call] was made to Mrs Foster on 16.1.13, no reply. Unfortunately I did not put this note … at the time I rang as I was busy setting up emergency care for other service users who had the same care agency. I did ring this lady but there was no reply. I assumed, which I probably should not have done, that as a self-funder she was able to arrange her own care, in hindsight this lady should have been visited, this was an error on my part."The senior Surrey council official responsible for setting up alternative care noted on the records on 25 January: "T/C [telephone call] was made to Mrs Foster on 16.1.13, no reply. Unfortunately I did not put this note … at the time I rang as I was busy setting up emergency care for other service users who had the same care agency. I did ring this lady but there was no reply. I assumed, which I probably should not have done, that as a self-funder she was able to arrange her own care, in hindsight this lady should have been visited, this was an error on my part."
Although Foster had an alarm by her bed, she was apparently too confused to know that she should use it to call for help.Although Foster had an alarm by her bed, she was apparently too confused to know that she should use it to call for help.
Surrey county council's strategic director for adult social care, Sarah Mitchell, apologised for what had happened to Foster and promised changes were being made. "We are very sorry for our failure to help Gloria Foster to get the support she needed. This report points out we should have done more and we completely accept that," she said.Surrey county council's strategic director for adult social care, Sarah Mitchell, apologised for what had happened to Foster and promised changes were being made. "We are very sorry for our failure to help Gloria Foster to get the support she needed. This report points out we should have done more and we completely accept that," she said.
"While we have already made changes following this dreadful case, we'll now act on these findings to do all we can to prevent anything like this happening again. Two members of staff have been suspended and we'll be taking disciplinary action in light of these findings.""While we have already made changes following this dreadful case, we'll now act on these findings to do all we can to prevent anything like this happening again. Two members of staff have been suspended and we'll be taking disciplinary action in light of these findings."
Foster died in Epsom hospital on 4 February, 11 days after being admitted.Foster died in Epsom hospital on 4 February, 11 days after being admitted.
Andrew Povey, a former leader of Surrey county council who has been campaigning to get more detail about the circumstances leading up to Foster's death, said: "I think that someone must be held responsible; ultimately it is the leader who is responsible."Andrew Povey, a former leader of Surrey county council who has been campaigning to get more detail about the circumstances leading up to Foster's death, said: "I think that someone must be held responsible; ultimately it is the leader who is responsible."
Friends paid tribute to her in the report. Ann Penston, one of her closest friends, described Foster as a "gregarious person who would sit down and chat with anybody".Friends paid tribute to her in the report. Ann Penston, one of her closest friends, described Foster as a "gregarious person who would sit down and chat with anybody".
Surrey police concluded earlier this year that there would be no criminal charges but there have been calls for the service to reopen its investigation into the incident. Jo Wood, another close family friend, said it was an "awful" thing to have happened to "such a fantastic woman and added that she thought it was "incredible" that there had been no criminal charges.Surrey police concluded earlier this year that there would be no criminal charges but there have been calls for the service to reopen its investigation into the incident. Jo Wood, another close family friend, said it was an "awful" thing to have happened to "such a fantastic woman and added that she thought it was "incredible" that there had been no criminal charges.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.