Care Agency Held in Raid Leaving Elderly Lady without Food

Friday, 15th February 2013

Mrs Gloria Foster 81 was left without medication food or water for nine days after the domiciliary care agency who were supposed to be caring for her was closed in a police raid. The agency which was based in Cheam, south London was raided on suspicion of employing illegal immigrants and was raided by both the Metropolitan Police and UK Border Agency officers in January 2013 when they arrested six people.

Mrs Foster lived in Banstead, Surrey and was found by a district nurse who had her admitted as an emergency to her local hospital in Epsom to recover from kidney failure. Unfortunately Mrs Foster died nearly three weeks later.

A full investigation is taking place of Surrey County Council’s Safeguarding procedures as they had commissioned the care package for Mrs Foster from the homecare agency.

Surrey County Council said in a statement: “We are very sad to hear about Mrs Foster’s death and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. The safety of vulnerable adults is our top priority, which is why this tragic event is already being urgently looked at by the Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board.”