What's happened
An inquest has revealed that Laura Winham, a vulnerable woman, lay dead in her Woking flat for over three years. Her diary entries indicated severe neglect and food scarcity. The inquest highlighted failures by social and mental health services to address her vulnerabilities, raising concerns about systemic issues in care.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Matthew Weaver in The Guardian, Laura Winham's diary entries revealed her dire situation, stating, 'I haven’t stocked any food for months because I don’t know what’s happening.' Tom Sanders from Metro highlighted that her family had raised concerns about her welfare months before her death, indicating systemic neglect. The inquest has led to changes in policies by local councils, as noted by Weaver, who reported that 'strict measures have been put in place' since Winham's death.
How we got here
Laura Winham, who suffered from schizophrenia and was deaf, was found dead in May 2021 after her family raised concerns about her welfare. The inquest has since revealed that her remains had been unnoticed for years, prompting scrutiny of the services meant to support her.
More on these topics
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Woking is a town in northwest Surrey, England. It is at the southwestern edge of the Greater London Urban Area and is a part of the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of approximately 24 minutes to Waterloo station.
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Surrey is a county in South East England which borders Kent to the east, East Sussex to the southeast, West Sussex to the south, Hampshire to the west, Berkshire to the northwest, and Greater London to the northeast.