[News] Surrey woman lay dead in flat for three years, say family

[CheeseRolls]

BBC News Story

This one has pushed my buttons. It sounds like Social Services should have done much better here, but the "estranged family"!!!!! Maybe there is more to this story, but on the face of it, before getting legal representation, you think they might want to ask themselves a few questions.

 

[beorhthelm]

saddened reading that, the family seemed to be absolving themselves of any responsibilty. everyone else at fault. why didn't they go round more, if she wouldn't speak to them, get some friends or a charity involved.

 

[Springal]

Bit sad that. I hear from friends who work in A&E about elderly parents ending up there and families that can’t really be bothered to come in or help, or take them in and then leave them there.

 

[papachris]

BBC News Story

This one has pushed my buttons. It sounds like Social Services should have done much better here, but the "estranged family"!!!!! Maybe there is more to this story, but on the face of it, before getting legal representation, you think they might want to ask themselves a few questions.

Exactly my first thought

 

[RandyWanger]

Poor girl, failed by her family and the system.

 

[Stat Brother]

Posters really should walk a mile in someone else's shoes before deciding what others should or shouldn't have done.

 

[Easy 10]

Posters really should walk a mile in someone else's shoes before deciding what others should or shouldn't have done.

Normally I'd fully agree. However, in this case, the fact that her family had not bothered even picking the phone up to her or checked on her for over 3 YEARS (at least) is absolutely unforgivable. The remarks from her sister fair take the breath away, as she blithely absolves herself and her family of any blame.

Her sister Nicky said despite the "warning signs" about her deteriorating mental health, "everyone seems to have turned a blind eye".
She added: "Everybody who was in contact with Laura and had a duty to her at some stage simply wiped their hands of her and forgot her.
"She was abandoned and left to die.
"It's just heart-breaking to think of how she lived in her last few years, unable to ask for help, without anyone there for her."

Oh, so NOW all of a sudden they're interested in her, sniffing a payday and getting the lawyers in to grasp some compensation out of the authorities over this tragedy.

Parasites.

 

[Diallo]

Very sad. I’m shocked no one would’ve smelt the body in all that time? I lived above a rotting body for over 2 months and it absolutely stank. I couldn’t bare to imagine the smell after 3 years.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Until you've dealt with a relative who doesn't want any contact with family for whatever reason, don't be too quick to judge without knowing the full story

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Very sad. I’m shocked no one would’ve smelt the body in all that time? I lived above a rotting body for over 2 months and it absolutely stank. I couldn’t bare to imagine the smell after 3 years.

You need to bury them deeper in future

 

[pocketseagull]

Maybe the family weren't aware of her mental health issues? Judging them without knowing the facts is unfair. Estrangement can come from either side.

 

[Diallo]

You need to bury them deeper in future

Boat, chain and rock next time, nonetheless I appreciate the advice. Much love.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Posters really should walk a mile in someone else's shoes before deciding what others should or shouldn't have done.

100% this, but surely her neighbours must've noticed she wasn't about for 3 years, no excuse

 

[portlock seagull]

If don’t speak to in 3 years, I’d question whether that’s really ‘family’! I think not. Perhaps now there’s some money to be had they’ve suddenly claimed ‘gran’ is one of their own? Sad in many ways, not just the obvious.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Posters really should walk a mile in someone else's shoes before deciding what others should or shouldn't have done.

Sadly I've encountered many scenarios like this over the years, and there are always two sides to a story, and more often than not the truth in the middle.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Maybe the family weren't aware of her mental health issues? Judging them without knowing the facts is unfair. Estrangement can come from either side.

Maybe not. The sister speaks about her 'deteriorating mental health'.

 

[METALMICKY]

Oddly conspicuous from this report is any mention of how the neighbors weren't alerted by the stench.

 

[jakarta]

I can't bear my Mother for what she has done - or not done - to my family over the years.

She is now in a Care Home but I grit my teeth and call her every two months or so, basically to see if she is still alive.

The idea of ignoring a relative for three years is just bizarre.

 

[warmleyseagull]

Bit sad that. I hear from friends who work in A&E about elderly parents ending up there and families that can’t really be bothered to come in or help, or take them in and then leave them there.

Never mind A&E,the problem is far worse once patients are admitted to other wards, partly, in the view of my A&E registrar son, why there is a hell of a problem daily in getting A&E patients admitted to other wards.

Another son is a haematology consultant and reckons the most important person in whole hospital is bed manager, who is a dragon and needs to be so because of the extraordinary lack of responsibility of families. Some of the stories are scary, basically preferring family members die than bother about finding them some dignity.

 

[vegster]

My ex Mrs was dead in bed for years too.