The Guardian has reported on an inquest taking place at Sheffield Town Hall into the death of a young woman with learning disabilities.
Laura Booth stopped eating after she was admitted to the Royal Hallamshire hospital in Sheffield for a routine eye operation in October 2016, her mother told an inquest hearing in the city on Monday.
Patricia Booth said her daughter was ignored by clinicians after she went into the hospital in October 2016 despite her being able to communicate to some extent, including using Makaton signing. She said this was in contrast to her treatment at the Children’s hospital in the city.
“It’s really heartbreaking. Laura was trying to communicate with them but they just wouldn’t listen … It just upset Laura that the doctors ignored her.” Patricia told the inquest how she and her husband became increasingly concerned that her daughter was not eating at the Hallamshire.
“Laura never had anything to eat all the time she was in the hospital” All she lived on was her rice milk and blackcurrant juice.We kept telling the doctors: ‘This isn’t right, she can’t survive on no food.’”
The inquest at Sheffield town hall is due to last up to three weeks.
Read the Guardian Article here.
Disability Sheffield commented: “Our hearts go out to the Booth family for the tragic loss of Laura. We hope that this inquest brings about the changes urgently needed to ensure people with learning disabilities have equal access to health care. Everyone has the right to be listened to. Once the inquest has concluded we hope to comment on the outcomes in terms of identified failures and recommendations.”
23 Apr 2021 16:36:27
So sad to hear of Laura Booth’s death through medical neglect, hope that this issue will be fully investigated and that no other person with learning disabilities has to endure the same as she did, nor other parents have to endure what her parents went through, this is tragic!