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.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

HGV Class 2 Driver

Wyre Borough Council
£13.47 - £13.68 per hour
Wyre Council is seeking a hardworking and reliable HGV Class 2 Driver Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire
Recuriter: Wyre Borough Council

Environmental Protection Administrative Assistant

Wyre Borough Council
Grade 3/4 £13.05 - £13.68 per hour
Are you organised, proactive, and passionate about delivering excellent customer service? Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire
Recuriter: Wyre Borough Council

Principal Practitioner

Middlesbrough Council
£45,091 - £47,181
We have an exciting role on offer within our Access and Safeguarding service as a Principal Practitioner. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: Middlesbrough Council

Senior Practitioner - Young People with Disabilities

Essex County Council
£46574.0000 - £56027.0000 per annum
Senior Practitioner - Young People with Disabilities, North EssexSecondment, Full Time£46,574 to £56,027 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Community Interventions Officer

Middlesbrough Council
£31,022 - £32,597
We have an exciting role on offer within our Access and Safeguarding service as a Community Interventions Officer. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: Middlesbrough Council
Linkedin Banner