Laura Winham, a 41-year-old woman from Woking, was discovered dead in her flat by her mother and brother in May 2021. The discovery came after her family attempted to contact her due to her father's declining health. An inquest revealed that Ms. Winham's body was "mummified and almost skeletal," raising serious questions about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Ms. Winham, who suffered from schizophrenia, had previously been sectioned twice and had severed ties with her family out of fear they intended to harm her. Despite her vulnerability, several agencies failed to provide the necessary support. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ceased her Disability Living Allowance because she did not apply for a Personal Independence Payment, a decision criticized by the coroner for lack of intervention.
Woking Borough Council, its former property manager New Vision Homes, the DWP, and Surrey County Council missed numerous opportunities to assist Ms. Winham. The coroner particularly highlighted the council's failure to offer adequate support. In response, Woking Borough Council has acknowledged these failings, bringing its housing services in-house as of April 2022 to ensure better support for vulnerable tenants.
"The tragic events that led to her death and the missed opportunities to discover her body should never have been allowed to happen," – Louise Strongitharm
In addition to the council's response, Surrey County Council issued an apology for its role in Ms. Winham's death. Efforts are underway to implement changes based on the findings of the Surrey Safeguarding Adult Review.
"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," – Claire Edgar
The cause and exact time of Ms. Winham's death remain undetermined; however, a calendar in her flat was marked until November 1, 2017. This suggests that she may have been deceased for over three years before being found.
The DWP extended its condolences to Ms. Winham's family, acknowledging the oversight and expressing regret for the lack of timely intervention.
"We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Laura's family." – Ms Strongitharm
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