Mark Whitehead 15 May 2023

Opportunities missed to help man who died of starvation

Opportunities missed to help man who died of starvation image
Image: DrimaFilm / Shutterstock.com.

A man with severe mental health problems died alone in his flat weighing four and a half stone after opportunities to help him were missed, according to a review of the case.

A report by the Nottingham City Safeguarding Adults Board said Errol Graham, 57, was found dead by bailiffs who were sent to evict him because he had not paid his rent for seven months.

Housing benefit had been stopped after he failed to respond to repeated requests for information to review his entitlement, the report said.

His gas had been capped off and his flat, rented from Nottingham City Homes, had no heating or hot water.

At the time of his death Mr Graham had no income for food and utilities, the report said.

It found that while Nottingham City Homes, the Department for Work and Pensions and his GP all had information on Mr Graham, none had the full picture of how he was living.

He was suffering severe mental health problems and the review said he could have received support if agencies had communicated better.

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Housing Services, formerly Nottingham City Homes, said: ‘As a direct result of Errol's tragic death and the circumstances leading up to it, we have reviewed our data sharing protocols with the DWP and introduced new joint processes to identify any appropriate support that may be required.

‘We have also amended our procedures where a single vulnerable adult is at risk of eviction, and now make a referral to our multi-agency eviction prevention panel to collate recent recorded contacts from all agencies involved.’

Designing for cohesion image

Designing for cohesion

Tom Fairey, Development Director at Alliance Leisure, discusses how community spaces can strengthen local connections.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Democratic Services Officer

Essex County Council
£30295.00 - £35641.00 per annum
Democratic Services OfficerFixed Term, Part Time£30,295 up to £35,641 per annum (full time equivalent) Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Workplace Coach - Business and Management Team

Essex County Council
£27412.00 - £32249.00 per annum + Full time equivalent
Workplace Coach - Business and Management TeamPermanent, Part Time£27,412 up to £32,249 per annum (full-time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Ugobus driver

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.00 per annum
Ugobus driverPermanent, Part Time£25,959 per annum (full time equivalent) Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Damp Surveyor

Royal Borough of Greenwich
PO4 - £49,056 - £52,194
Damp Surveyor (DMC)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Project Support Officer

Essex County Council
£28402.00 - £33413.00 per annum + pension
Project Support OfficerFixed Term, Full Time£28,402 up to £33,413 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner