Mr Handley, a young man who had Down’s syndrome, died aged just 33 in November 2012 after a heart attack caused by inhaling his own liquid faeces, vomited up because his bowel was severely obstructed by faecal impaction.
The coroner made a finding of gross failure and the multiple omissions of care, he said, created an “extreme and tragic situation” that led to Mr Handley’s death from constipation, a “condition that one is not expected to die of”.
It is vital that lessons are learned, that change is introduced and effectively implemented to ensure that people with learning disabilities and their families can have confidence in the health and social care services that support them.
Deborah Kitson – CEO, Ann Craft Trust
Mencap’s Death by Indifference Report
Mencap’s Death by Indifference in 2007 reported the appalling deaths of six people with a learning disability that was believed to be the result of failings in their health care.
There followed numerous reports by families of deaths that revealed that their relatives had also been failed by services. Subsequent comments were made that the care of people with learning disabilities had to be addressed in order to ensure that they received the best quality care that is their right.
But here we are again in 2018 hearing about another tragic death that could have been avoided.
We hear that lessons have been learned by those agencies that let Richard and his family down in 2012. But how many times have we heard this before?
Deborah Kitson – CEO, Ann Craft Trust
Lack of Effective Communication and Individual Needs
Failings revealed included the lack of effective communication between services and Richard’s individual needs not being addressed – for example appointment letters were sent with no regard that he was unable to read.
We hear that lessons have been learned by those agencies that let Richard and his family down in 2012. But how many times have we heard this before?
It is vital that lessons are learned, that change is introduced and effectively implemented to ensure that people with learning disabilities and their families can have confidence in the health and social care services that support them.
Photo credit: Elliott Brown under this CC license.