Tag: 2019

07 the decision-maker

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The coroner concluded
at the end of the inquest:
‘The anxiety and depression
were long term problems
but the intense anxiety
was caused by his recent assessment
by the Department
as being fit for work
and his view
of the likely consequences.’
A former orthopaedic surgeon
employed by the contractor
had carried out the assessment,
concluding that he
was ‘at no significant risk
by working.’
The decision-maker
did not request
any reports or letters
from his doctor
his psychiatrist
or his clinical psychiatrist
had failed to ask him
if he had suicidal thoughts.
Six months later
he took his own life.

[Disability News Service, 02/12/2019, DWP: The Case for the Prosecution]

15 he sat in his car in a quiet country lane

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He was twenty thousand pounds
in debt. Payday loans;
one thousand per cent interest.
His children told their grandmother
Santa hadn’t come the year before.
A single dad, he quit his job in a factory to look after his children, but fell behind with rent
and with trying to feed and clothe them.
He had four pounds sixty one pence
in his account, waiting for the benefit;
there is an average five-week wait for the first payment.
He had been served an eviction notice.
He sat in his car in a quiet country lane,
crying.

[Metro, 21/07/2019, Dad, 34, took his own life after wait for Universal Credit left him with £4.61; Daily Mirror, 20/07/2019, Single dad with just £4.61 took own life after waiting weeks for Universal Credit]

17 when questioned afterwards

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When questioned afterwards
the assessor claimed he couldn’t remember
if he had made any phone calls
to their son’s doctor or psychiatrist
for information about his mental health.
‘He reports self harm
in the past.
He reports he attempted an overdose
six weeks ago;
he would not say
what he took.
He reports he has had no thoughts
of suicide since.
The evidence overall suggests
he is not at substantial risk.’
The decision
was confirmed in a letter.
A month later
he took his own life.
His father said his son’s mental health
had deteriorated in the last couple of years
but he had previously been able to work intermittently
in agriculture
and labouring.
His final job was cleaning buses.
He was taking strong medication
anti-psychotics,
anti-depressants,
was experiencing
paranoid delusions.
His father said
‘his mind was gone’
He remembers finding his son’s assessment report
and his other official paperwork
scattered over the floor of his flat
after he died.
Several weeks later
Department officials
visited the family.
‘They said
“I don’t suppose it will help now
but we have reversed the decision.”’

[Disability News Service, 02/12/2019, DWP: The Case for the Prosecution]

26 on someone’s desk

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It has been heart breaking
to realise
we have people sleeping
by the underground entrance; devastating
to learn
that at least two people
have died there.
I confess
that I feel a sense
of hopelessness
as I cannot
personally
solve this problem.
I would like to believe
that this is on someone’s desk.
I am also concerned
about the ongoing stench
due to it being used as a urinal
and the fact
that it is
absolutely filthy.
I physically feel as though
I am going to be sick
each time I go by.
More recently I notice
the homeless
are leaving bedding
stacked up there.
Surely this cannot be safe.
This could be used by an
unscrupulous person
as a cover
for an explosive device.
After all
the clientele
using that entrance
are the kind of people
likely to be targeted.
While I recognise that we cannot solve the homeless problem
overnight
we surely need to address
the unsanitary conditions that we face
daily
arriving and leaving
the parliamentary estate.
I am saddened
for security staff
who have to inhale the stench.
It is unacceptable
that they should have to work
in that environment.
However
now that bundles of stuff
are being left there
I really am beginning
to feel unsafe
personally
and equally
for everyone else
who uses that entrance.
I should tell you
I have been tempted
to take a bucket and mop to it
myself.
With best wishes
Chaplain to the Speaker of the House
Priest in charge of St Mary-at-Hill
Priest Vicar of Westminster Abbey
Chaplain to the Queen

[New Statesman, 08/10/2019, Parliament’s chaplain complained about “stench” and security risk of Westminster Tube’s homeless]

32 his doctor would have told them

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He had stated in the assessment form
that he had problems:
anxiety
depression.
He was unable to cope
with either support workers
or help from his family.
Because of the severity of his panic attacks
the assessment was carried out
at the cottage where he lived
alone.
His mother says he was unaware
of the purpose of the assessment
she said
neither the assessor
nor the Department
made any attempt to secure
evidence about his health.
His doctor would have told them
that he was unable to work.
The doctor told the inquest
he had visited him in extreme distress
a short time after his benefits were stopped.
The doctor handed him a note
explaining that he was extremely unwell
and completely unfit for work.
The note does not appear to have reached his local Jobcentre.
He did not take his own life, though;
four months after his benefits were stopped
he starved to death.

[Disability News Service, 02/12/2019, DWP: The Case for the Prosecution]

34 my patient will be in pain

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In his report, the first doctor
lists various serious health issues:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
cervical spondylosis,
osteoarthritis.
In his summary, the doctor stated:
‘My patient will be in pain
on standing and
at the commencement
of walking. Whilst
on the balance of probability
he would be able to walk
20 metres in my opinion
he could not walk that distance
without pain
or exhaustion.
In terms of cooking
his very limited respiratory tolerance
and his difficulties with lifting means that
anything
other than
straightforward microwave cooking
is likely to be beyond
his capabilities.
It would be reasonable
to describe him
as requiring assistance with toilet needs;
the need to monitor and change his catheter
requires medical input.’
Despite this
the Department
continued to find him fit for work
and blocked him from receiving full benefits.
Three months later
another doctor wrote:
‘I am this patient’s General Medical Practitioner
and the custodian
of the primary medical records
they have accumulated
during their lifetime in the UK.
Following a recent assessment this patient,
in contradiction of my own knowledge over time
clinical assessment and
medical certification,
was found fit for work.
Because of my patient’s health condition
there would be a substantial risk
to his health
if he were found not to have
limited capability
for work related activity.
I disagree
with the outcome of your assessment
and support my patient
in his appeal
against your decision.’
Despite this
the Department continued to deny him
benefits.
His health – as predicted – deteriorated badly.
He developed pneumonia.
His weight dropped to six stone
(38 kilos).
Twelve months later
he left hospital
in an emaciated state
to take on the Department
at a tribunal.
The decision was overturned.
The Department agreed to backpay
four thousand pounds.
That money is now being used
to pay for his funeral.

[Liverpool Echo, 28/04/2019, Revealed: Warnings about dying Stephen Smith that were cruelly ignored by the DWP]

35 a large amount of medication

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His housemate found him in bed
a large amount of medication
on his bedside table.
The housemate last saw him
two days before
(he had spent the day in bed himself
due to illness)
but decided to check on him when
he stopped hearing noises
coming from his room.
He did not move the body.
He called the aumbulance service,
who recorded the time of death – 3.33 –
and also called police to the scene.
The post-mortem and toxicology tests
found he had lethal levels
of four different medicines
in his system.
A note was left on his unlocked phone.
It said:
Can you thank the people
who work at the Department?

[Derby Telegraph, 12/04/2019, Tragic tenant left suicide note sarcastically ‘thanking’ Universal Credit bosses]

39 starting from zero again

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A note was discovered on his computer
by his parents,
detailing exactly
how and when
he planned
to take his own life.
He was 28,
autistic,
diagnosed with depression.
The Department ordered him
to attend a work capability assessment.
He refused.
The Department decided
to terminate his benefits,
his only source of income.
Six years ago
he told his social workers
he did not wish to have contact
with his family.
His parents had battled to see him since
but were forbidden from knowing
where he lived.
He had previously gone
voluntarily
to the acute inpatient mental health unit
in the town where he lived
after being told about the assessment.
He was reluctant to ask for help again.
‘If I am accepted,
I will have to stay up to 28 days
or six months
in a boring and cramped environment
surrounded
by very damaged people. After which
it will be determined
that I no longer need treatment
and will be allowed to leave.
I will likely be homeless,
starting from zero again,
and the vicious cycle
will begin anew.’
Social services closed his case
after he failed to respond to letters.
The note revealed
he made three separate attempts
to hang himself
between 2016 and 2018.
He wrote:
‘Each time I failed with panic.’
He wrote:
‘I cannot be bothered to fight this
any more. I am
out of energy. I only exist
to do what I want to do.
Dealing with paperwork,
making phone calls, feeling
anxious
every day
about whether I am going to be homeless
are things I do not want to do.’
His body was discovered
in an advanced state of decomposition
nine months later
when housing association officials
called to evict.

[Milton Keynes Citizen, 16/09/2019, Autistic Milton Keynes man left suicide note on computer explaining tragic reasons he took his own life; Milton Keynes Citizen, 02/12/2020, ‘Our son’s tragic loss of life could have been avoided’, say parents of autistic Milton Keynes man whose death went unnoticed for nine months]

40 a decision was taken

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His daughter received a text
and immediately knew something was wrong.
The decision was taken
despite being told by his doctor
he was too sick to return to his job.
(He had been a painter and decorator.)
He had suffered from anxiety and depression
for six years. He also had
breathing problems
caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Department had written to him
a year earlier
requesting a consultation in July.
Four days before the medical
he attended his doctor’s surgery
in a state of panic.
He was declared fit to work.
Following the decision
he lodged an appeal
but it was rejected.
His support was stopped in November.
December. His daughter had been planning
to help him take his case to a tribunal,
but she had had to leave him
to go Christmas shopping
and to pick up her children,
when she received the text.
‘I love you.’
She found him
and performed CPR
before calling an ambulance.
Three days later
a decision was taken
to turn off his life support.

[Inews, 06/06/2019, Chronically ill father died by suicide after DWP declared him fit to work and cut his benefits]