Firstly i'd like to appologise for this long winded contribution but please read it, there is two messages here.

Prior to my current job i worked for Social Services , supporting adults with learning diisabillities [ a P.C. term i loathe, as it puts all mind disabled individuals into one pot]

When i started, i was one of 6 staff, selected to open a new communitty house, with 4 residents.[ This was part of the UK's care in the community programme, which meant taking individuals out of large hospitals/asylums, and placing them in shared homes but as tenants and Thus part of the community] This in its self was a traumatic time for these individuals, they were taken from establishments that had cared for them for years, [ yes and sadly in the pat abused, mistreated, and ignored most of the time, but that was the past] the future was to reintergrate these adults into their birth communities and participate in community life.

The only problem with CARE IN THE COMMUNITY as a political/social concept was/is that the community as a whole dont CARE.

I digress


Going back to my first role....The house had four tenants ...Julie L..28 Celrabal Palsy.[ verbal skills/ and highly emotional] Julie H...25... Celrablal Palsay..[non verbal communication skills/ lovely squeaks and squeals that said more than words]
Jenny..44 Autism..[non verbal communication but a laugh to scare the pants off you] and finaly dear Kathleen 40. .Down syndrome.. [full communication skills, dry sense of humour and a heart big enough to choke a horse]

This story is about Kathleen.. Her mother was 82 years old, unlike the other ladies Kathleen lived at home with mum, and had done all her life. Social Services in their infinate wisdom decided that Kathleens mum needed a break and that Kathleen should be more independent and live away from home. They cohersed/cajoled this loveable lady into a romance of sharing a home with three other ladies, have round the clock support, go out and do what you want...shop..socialise..have fun ..etc... what thay did not tell her WAS MUM WAS NOT GOING WITH HER..

Externaly Social Services sold the idea to Kathleens mum ...as the right thing to do/your old you need space/rest Kathleen will be fine....and .she loves this idea....

The day kathleen left home to move into her knew home life changed.

Kathleen was Diabetic, and had insulin injections twice a day. She was given these injections previously by her mum. Kathleen knew the inbetween parts of her illness and was awre of eating regularly, and snacking at certain times.. to balance her sugar levels..


A district nurse had been enrolled to come to the house twice a day to administer the insulin.. but after one week [money raised its ugly head]
Talk between the nurse and Social service care co-ordinaters.. soon established this could be a long and expensive exercise...answer=

Teach Kathleen to inject herself....so week two started with a demonstration to kathleen on an orange how to inject insulin.

After two demonstrations Kathleens demenor changed, she was horrified of this independence being thrust on her and wanted her mum.

Sadly mum, was also suffering ...afterall her child had been removed from the family home and instead of feeling relieved with her own new independence was destroyed with guilt and saddness of Kathleens departure..

And under instructions by social workers declined Kathleens requests for home visits, or to visit her at her new home.[ apparently by avioding contact for 6-8 weeks helps an individual adjust to their new surroundings, without the reminders of home comforts.....]


Week three...after three days of declined invitations for home visits by mum... Kathleen started not to eat....[serious problem]

The nurse was being overly persistant that Kathleen partook in injected the orange twice a day to train her in self administration..and this poor womans stress took a hold of her....

Week thrre day six... Kathleen returns home unwell from her day centre..Her lips are covered in salt crystals...and she looks very pale. Kathleen is also talking in a manner that suggests confussion...a doctor is called out...

A virus is diagnosed... fluids and rest diagnosed....

Week 4 [1 day later] I arrive at work at 7am...Kathleen is running a tempreture and has alll night refused fluids.. i sppon feed her water for 2 hours.. whilst sponging her forehead down.. Kathleen becomes adgitated and restless... and very confused... i call an ambulance..........it arrives and because Kathleen although Down Syndrome with a raging fever and total cofusion... has the words to say ...'go away, i'm not going to hospital'

The ambulance refuse to take her[[ Political Correctness as its worst, as they believed she made an informed choice they could not take her against her will]

I and another collegue struggled for a further five hours to give her fluids and reduce her tempreture. At 7pm we called a doctor out who imediately called an ambulance....AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL


Kathleen died three days later of diabetic kidney failure... and although we had beeen informed on the night of her hospital addmitance that she was being reffered to another hospital for di-alasis.......This never transpired ... the reason given was .... she was not the right candidate for di-alasis or transplant....


Who decided Kathleens life................

David[please forgive all spelling mistakes]