30 July - Bexley council still doesn’t get it
After reporting on
Bexley council’s BELL failure
on the night Mrs. Barbara Baker died alone with a council provided emergency pendant draped
around her neck, I was contacted by someone who claimed to be her best friend and who said she was
totally unaware of the circumstances of her death, it having been hushed up by Bexley council. Now
the News Shopper has found a similar case and reported it today.
What I find most shocking are the reported comments by the Bexley council spokeswoman
who would appear to be totally devoid of any semblance of humanity.
“The death was not avoidable and it was not as a result of the BELL alarm not being answered.”
Still no recognition of the fact that Bexley council’s poor management and penny pinching
caused this lady to die helpless and alone. In two days time BELL call handling will
transfer from the Civic Offices to Chippenham in Wiltshire and result in “a much improved service”.
Presumably that is an admission that Bexley council
has run a seriously sub-standard service. As the News
Shopper lady says, “I don’t trust the system after what I heard about Barbara”.
Before Bexley council’s programme of cuts took its toll on vulnerable lives Mrs. Baker
could have had someone by her side within a minute or two. In preparation and awaiting final
approval from the source informant is a report on how things used to be when the council
could be trusted not to let an old lady die alone.