Woman neglected by council feared she would die

A disabled resident was abandoned by a London council in a state of neglect, despite her having obvious and significant needs, a social care watchdog has found.

The woman, known as "Ms X", had been unable to shower or bath for 12 months, and feared she would be left to die as she waited for help.

Islington Council agreed to pay £3,000 in compensation after being criticised by the local government and social care ombudsman.

The watchdog said it was "incomprehensible" the council had not provided care and support.

In March 2023, the woman's GP and occupational therapists told Islington Council she was in need of urgent support following a stay in hospital, but officers insisted there was no capacity to prioritise her case.

In October that year, Ms X emailed the local authority to tell them she was housebound and had not had a bath or shower for 12 months.

The council then allocated a senior social worker to the case who visited her within a week, but the assessment was not completed until December – nine months after the woman first left the hospital.

No budget had been put in place for a care package by the time Ms X complained to the Ombudsman in April 2024.

In June, she was hospitalised for a second time – without yet receiving any payments towards her care.

Flora Williamson, executive member for health and social care, said she was sorry "for the impact this has had" on Ms X.

She admitted the council had not lived up to its own standards.

The ombudsman's report found the council had caused "avoidable distress and uncertainty" by delaying the social care assessment, support plan and the agreement of a direct payment.

It noted that Ms X had several long-term conditions which "affect her ability to complete most activities of daily living".

Williamson said the council accepted the watchdog's report and had already implemented all of its recommendations.

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