Laura Winham: Council failed to follow up on police concerns for vulnerable woman who lay dead in flat for years, says family | UK News
According to the family, a vulnerable 38-year-old woman, whose body was found three years after her death, was “abandoned and left to die” by mental health and social services.
Laura Winham’s body was found by her brother in her apartment in Woking, Surrey, in May 2021, following her death in November 2017.
A pre-inquiry review at Surrey The Court of Inquiry heard that the county council did not follow up with police concerns.
Kate O’Raghalaigh, representing the Winham family at the assessment, said Surrey police officers visited the woman’s apartment while she was still alive in October 2017.
She said police reported concerns that she had neglected herself and had little access to food, to Surrey County Council.
Ms O’Raghallaigh said: ‘Laura was at risk of malnutrition and self-neglect in October 2017 when she was monitored by police.
But the panel did not follow up with these concerns, the hearing was told.
The inquest learned that the exact date of death was unknown – a calendar in Mrs Winham’s flat had the date crossed out until November 2017.
Her body was found in May 2021 – three and a half years after her death – when Ms Winham’s family said they asked police to break into her home after they were concerned for her safety. Teacher.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, which Ms O’Raghallaigh described as “a very unusual element in this case”.
Katie Ayers, representing the county council, said the government accepted the assessment of care for Ms Winham that should have been made after the police visit.
The first-floor apartment in Woking, Surrey where Laura Winham was found ‘a mummy with almost skin and bones left’
“What Surrey County Council has accepted is that the section nine test should have been completed but it was not,” she said.
Ms. Ayers added: “There may be a risk associated with malnutrition. At this stage, that seems to be speculation.”
Ms O’Raghalaigh has asked assistant coroner Dr Karen Henderson to hire a forensic anthropologist to investigate whether Ms Winham’s death was caused by malnutrition and determine the time period in which Ms. she may have died.
Dr. Henderson said she would make a written decision on the matter in the next few weeks.
She scheduled another pre-investigation review for March 15 and set an interim full hearing date for April 3.
The review had previously heard that Mrs Winham was found in “a mummy almost skin and bone”.
Her sister, Nicky Winham, said the family was unable to maintain contact with her because years of schizophrenia led her to believe they would harm her.
