Insensitive

Published: 1 April, 2010

• THE death of Jennyfer Spencer (‘When you read this, I’ll be dead’, March 25) is deeply upsetting.
I think the Care Quality Commission has been contacted to investigate and hope that the CQC will quickly ascertain the role of the council in contributing to Jennyfer’s death.
But I have seen some coverage of the death and am disturbed by the lead councillor’s comments that seem to imply the council did everything it could – which clearly wasn’t the view held by Jennyfer.
I think Camden’s blasé attitude to the death of Jennyfer Spencer is astonishing and offensive.
The idea that Ms Spencer had a “history of refusing to engage with social care services” must be very upsetting for her friends, family and New Journal readers who have seen that she believed social services contributed to her death.
The council’s suggestion that she failed to turn up to meetings may have been related to the cuts to her support that the council had imposed.
The council’s deep insensitivity will outrage local people. And if this was a child’s death there would be even more outcry.
NEIL COYLE
Director of Policy
Disability Alliance
Universal House
88-94 Wentworth Street, E1