Latest news with #Winham
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Apology after woman's body in flat for three years
A council has apologised after one of its tenants lay dead in her Surrey flat for more than three years. Laura Winham, 41, was found dead in her flat in Woking by her mother and brother in May 2021. Following the conclusion of the inquest into Ms Winham's death on Tuesday, Woking Borough Council apologised for failings within its housing service. "The tragic events that led to her death and the missed opportunities to discover her body should never have been allowed to happen," said Louise Strongitharm, the council's strategic director for communities. Ms Winham was a vulnerable woman with schizophrenia who had twice been sectioned and had cut ties with her family because she thought they were trying to harm her. The inquest heard how Ms Winham's body was "mummified and almost skeletal" when it was found at her council flat in Devonshire Avenue. Her cause and time of death could not be determined but a calendar in the flat was crossed off until 1 November 2017. Ms Winham's mother and brother found her remains after trying to make contact when her father's health was deteriorating. Coroner Karen Henderson said Woking Borough Council, its former property manager New Vision Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Surrey County Council had all missed opportunities to help Ms Winham. Responding, Ms Strongitharm said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Laura's family. "Woking Borough Council accepts the coroner's findings and those of the Surrey Safeguarding Adult Review, which identified failings within our housing service alongside shortcomings by other agencies. For that we are truly sorry." Ms Strongitharm said the council is committed to addressing the issues raised and has begun to implement changes. She said the council brought its housing services back in-house in April 2022 to have better control over how it supports vulnerable tenants. Claire Edgar, executive director of adults, wellbeing and health partnerships at Surrey County Council, also apologised. "I am sorry Laura did not get the support she needed and I know that the service has worked hard to act on learning from this case," she said. "We will carefully consider the coroner's findings so that everything possible is done to make sure that our practice is as good as it can be." The coroner said the DWP should have acted after Ms Winham's Disability Living Allowance benefit was stopped because she did not apply for a Personal Independence Payment. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the DWP told the BBC its condolences remain with Ms Winham's family. The department has introduced new guidance on how to safely stop payments to vulnerable claimants, the spokesperson added. New Vision Homes was contacted for comment. Follow BBC Surrey on , on . Send your story ideas to or us on . 'Huge opportunity missed' to help woman, family say Social services 'could have done more' for Laura - inquest Surrey County Council Woking Borough Council Department for Work and Pensions
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Woking council apologises after body lay in flat for three years
A council has apologised after one of its tenants lay dead in her Surrey flat for more than three Winham, 41, was found dead in her flat in Woking by her mother and brother in May the conclusion of the inquest into Ms Winham's death on Tuesday, Woking Borough Council apologised for failings within its housing service."The tragic events that led to her death and the missed opportunities to discover her body should never have been allowed to happen," said Louise Strongitharm, the council's strategic director for communities. Ms Winham was a vulnerable woman with schizophrenia who had twice been sectioned and had cut ties with her family because she thought they were trying to harm inquest heard how Ms Winham's body was "mummified and almost skeletal" when it was found at her council flat in Devonshire cause and time of death could not be determined but a calendar in the flat was crossed off until 1 November Winham's mother and brother found her remains after trying to make contact when her father's health was deteriorating. Failings Coroner Karen Henderson said Woking Borough Council, its former property manager New Vision Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Surrey County Council had all missed opportunities to help Ms Ms Strongitharm said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Laura's family."Woking Borough Council accepts the coroner's findings and those of the Surrey Safeguarding Adult Review, which identified failings within our housing service alongside shortcomings by other agencies. For that we are truly sorry."Ms Strongitharm said the council is committed to addressing the issues raised and has begun to implement changes. She said the council brought its housing services back in-house in April 2022 to have better control over how it supports vulnerable Edgar, executive director of adults, wellbeing and health partnerships at Surrey County Council, also apologised."I am sorry Laura did not get the support she needed and I know that the service has worked hard to act on learning from this case," she said."We will carefully consider the coroner's findings so that everything possible is done to make sure that our practice is as good as it can be."The coroner said the DWP should have acted after Ms Winham's Disability Living Allowance benefit was stopped because she did not apply for a Personal Independence Wednesday, a spokesperson for the DWP told the BBC its condolences remain with Ms Winham's department has introduced new guidance on how to safely stop payments to vulnerable claimants, the spokesperson Vision Homes was contacted for comment.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman found dead in flat after three years had been ‘left to fend for herself'
The family of a woman who lay dead in her flat for more than three years have criticised social services for failing to support a 'vulnerable person' and leaving her to 'fend for herself'. Laura Winham's 'mummified and almost skeletal' remains were found by her brother in her flat in Woking, Surrey, on May 24 2021. Ms Winham, who was 41 when discovered, was found after her relatives asked police to break into her home following concerns about her safety. An inquest held at Surrey Coroner's Court ruled her cause of death was 'unascertained' and found it was impossible to narrow down a time of death, but a calendar in Ms Winham's flat had dates crossed off until November 1 2017. On Tuesday, coroner Karen Henderson ruled there were 'lost opportunities' for multiple agencies in the run-up to her death, including Woking Borough Council and its former contractor, New Vision Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and Surrey County Council's adult social care team. The court heard that, following a police referral in October 2017, the county council's adult social care team called and wrote to Ms Winham offering advice about food banks, but did not visit the property. Closing the inquest, Dr Henderson described the team's investigation as 'perfunctory in almost every way' but added that it was not possible to conclude these 'lost opportunities materially contributed' to Ms Winham's death. In a statement read out by the family's solicitor, Iftikhar Manzoor, alongside Ms Winham's brother Roy and mother Marilyn, thedy said: '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. '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.' The court previously heard that Ms Winham's family last saw her in person in 2009, and contact over social media had stopped in 2014 after she sent them a message on Facebook which read: 'It is best to have minimum/no contact. And communications with the family. It is totally out of my hands. There is nothing I can do. Everything I say will get repeated and relayed back. Be patient.' The family said they believed they were doing the right thing by respecting Ms Winham's wishes to have no contact with them. Her sister Nicky told the court: 'We knew that contact with us exacerbated her mental health difficulties.' Despite this, the family often passed by to check Ms Winham's car was still outside her flat. The statement on behalf of the family continued: 'The circumstances of Laura's death have been absolutely devastating for her loved ones. 'They are a caring and loving family who I have come to know well over the past few years. 'Laura was a much-loved, much-missed daughter and sister. 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. 'Sadly in this instance that was not the case.' It added: 'The safeguarding review made it clear that Laura was never failed by her family. 'They sought professional help but input was lost from people who truly loved her. 'Laura and her family need a system that cared enough about vulnerable person. 'Laura's death must act as a catalyst for change.' Claire Edgar, executive director of adults, wellbeing and health partnerships at Surrey County Council, apologised for Laura not getting 'the support she needed'. In a statement, she said: 'This is a terribly sad case and my thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Laura's family for their loss and the distress they have suffered. 'I am sorry Laura did not get the support she needed and 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. 'We will carefully consider the coroner's findings so that everything possible is done to make sure that our practice is as good as it can be. 'We will also continue to work with our partners to ensure all wider learning is acted on.' Dr Henderson also ruled that, had Woking Borough Council and New Vision Homes – WBC'S landlord contractor from 2015 to April 2022 – flagged Ms Winham as vulnerable then it would have been evident she required further assistance. The coroner also said the DWP should have been 'more proactive' after Ms Winham's Disability Living Allowance benefit was stopped due to her choosing not to apply for a Personal Independence Payment. The court heard she chose not apply because 'she could not cope with the invasive medical check-up'. But Dr Henderson reiterated that it was impossible to conclude these 'lost opportunities materially contributed' to Ms Winham's death. Surrey County Council has been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Huge opportunity missed' to help woman, family say
A vulnerable woman with schizophrenia who lay dead in her flat for more than three years was "left to fend for herself", her family said. Laura Winham, 41, was found dead in a flat in Woking, Surrey, by her mother and brother, Marilyn and Roy Winham, in May 2021. In a statement following the conclusion of an inquest into her death on Tuesday, Ms Winham's family said there was a "huge opportunity missed" to take action after police raised concerns that she had little food or money. The inquest ruled her cause of death was "unascertained" and a time of death could not be pinpointed, but a calendar in Ms Winham's flat had dates crossed off until 1 November, 2017. In a statement read by the family's solicitor, Iftikhar Manzoor, they added: "Laura was clearly a person potentially at risk but she wasn't deemed worthy of visiting. She was left to fend herself. "Laura was a much-loved, much-missed daughter and sister. 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." Initially held in October 2024, the inquest heard that Ms Winham's "mummified and almost skeletal" body had been found at her social housing property in Devonshire Avenue in May 2021. Ms Winham's sister, Nicky Winham, told Surrey Coroner's Court in October that Laura had twice been sectioned and cut off contact with her family because she believed they were trying harm her. Luke Addams, director of practice, assurance and safeguarding at Surrey County Council, told the inquest that the authority "could have done more" for Ms Winham. Coroner Karen Henderson ruled there were "lost opportunities" for multiple agencies in the run-up to her death, including Woking Borough Council and its former contractor, New Vision Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions, and Surrey County Council's adult social care team. Dr Henderson described the county council's adult social care team investigation as "perfunctory in almost every way" but added that it was not possible to conclude these lost opportunities "materially contributed" to Ms Winham's death. The court previously heard that Ms Winham's family last saw her in person in 2009, and contact over social media had stopped in 2014 after she sent them a message on Facebook which read: "It is best to have minimum/no contact. And communications with the family. "It is totally out of my hands. There is nothing I can do. Everything I say will get repeated and relayed back. Be patient." The family said they believed they were doing the right thing by respecting Ms Winham's wishes to have no contact with them. Her sister Nicky told the court: "We knew that contact with us exacerbated her mental health difficulties." Ms Winham's mother and brother found her remains after trying to make contact in January 2021 when her father's health was deteriorating. The inquest previously heard that Ms Winham had written that she was "starving" in calendar entries. She also expressed her fears about doing food shops, with a diary entry in October 2017 reading: "Whole month since my last food shop. I can't believe I'm surviving this long." Dr Henderson also ruled that, had Woking Borough Council and New Vision Homes – WBC'S landlord contractor from 2015 to April 2022 – flagged Ms Winham as vulnerable then it would have been evident she required further assistance. The coroner also said the DWP should have been "more proactive" after Ms Winham's Disability Living Allowance benefit was stopped due to her not applying for a Personal Independence Payment. The court heard she chose not apply because "she could not cope with the invasive medical check-up". Claire Edgar, executive director of adults, wellbeing and health partnerships at Surrey County Council, apologised for Ms Winham's care and said it had "worked hard to act on learning from this case". Continuing the family statement outside the coroner's court, Mr Manzoor said: "They [Ms Winham's family] 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. "Sadly in this instance that was not the case. "The safeguarding review made it clear that Laura was never failed by her family. "They sought professional help but input was lost from people who truly loved her. "Laura and her family need a system that cared enough about vulnerable person. "Laura's death must act as a catalyst for change." Additional reporting by PA Media. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Social services 'could have done more' for Laura - inquest Vulnerable woman felt 'starving' hunger - inquest Family's 'horrifying discovery' of body in flat HM Courts & Tribunals Service
