A SERIES of recommendations have been made after a Somerset woman died from a Covid-19 infection while being for other injuries.

The Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) has published the recommendations in a report which was published on Tuesday, October 1.

The report documents an elderly lady’s life leading up to her death from a Covid-19 infection while being treated for injuries arising from an accident. There is evidence that the lady’s life was controlled for some years before her injury, which occurred partly in the context of the restrictions of the pandemic.

There were also concerns about how money was being used and neighbours heard unrest and shouting at the home and there were indications of coercive control.

Highlighting weaknesses in the way agencies were able to communicate with the lady has been assessed and the information recorded and shared across the health and social care system, the report makes various recommendations, and it can be viewed at this website: https://somersetsafeguardingadults.org.uk/

Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Independent Chair of the SSAB said: “The Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board exists to protect vulnerable people, and to make sure lessons are learned so that necessary improvements can be made. I want to take this opportunity to offer the family my sincere condolences for their loss.

“There is much to learn from this SAR to inform how we work with older people who are being controlled by a relative.”

For more information about the SSAB and a copy of the report visitwww.ssab.safeguardingsomerset.org.uk