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Case review into couple's death Case review into couple's deaths
(30 minutes later)
The deaths of an elderly couple in Northamptonshire has prompted a serious case review by the county council. The deaths of an elderly couple in Northamptonshire have prompted a county council serious case review.
The bodies of Jean and Derek Randall, aged in their 70s, were found by police in their Northampton home on Thursday.The bodies of Jean and Derek Randall, aged in their 70s, were found by police in their Northampton home on Thursday.
Sally Keeble, Northampton North MP, said earlier she had tried to get social services to visit the couple. Sally Keeble, Northampton North MP, said she had tried to get social services to visit the couple.
The independent review by the county's Safeguarding Adults Board will assess the roles of all the organisations involved in the case.The independent review by the county's Safeguarding Adults Board will assess the roles of all the organisations involved in the case.
The couple were found dead at their home in Birch Barn Way after the couple failed to answer the door to a nurse who came to give Mrs Randall an injection. The couple were found dead at their home in Birch Barn Way after they failed to answer the door to a nurse who came to give Mrs Randall an injection.
It later emerged a light neighbours had seen coming on periodically was most likely on a timer switch. 'Telephone calls'
It later emerged a light neighbours had seen coming on periodically was most likely on a timer and the couple may have been dead a number of days.
Ms Keeble said the work her office carried out on behalf of the couple to get an official assessment of their condition had been wasted in a tragic way.Ms Keeble said the work her office carried out on behalf of the couple to get an official assessment of their condition had been wasted in a tragic way.
She said: "I am deeply shocked and quite outraged that six weeks of phone calls and effort on their behalf to get Northamptonshire social services to carry out an assessment of their condition has ended in such a tragic way."She said: "I am deeply shocked and quite outraged that six weeks of phone calls and effort on their behalf to get Northamptonshire social services to carry out an assessment of their condition has ended in such a tragic way."
Cabinet member for health and adult social services Councillor Robin Brown said of the case review: "Our initial findings show that contrary to speculation, the county's key organisations were speaking with and visiting Mr and Mrs Randall throughout December and indeed on a regular basis beforehand.
The house in Kingsthorpe where the couple's bodies were found
"Nonetheless we need to see if there is anything more or different which could or should have been done."
He said the review, the findings of which would be made public, would "fully assess the roles of all the organisations involved in this distressing case".
Northamptonshire Police said they were not treating the deaths as suspicious and were preparing a file for the coroner.
Neighbour Heather Footitt, 73, said earlier Mr Randall was trying to get his wife into a home, but his requests had been ignored.
Review panel
She said: "He couldn't cope, he was asking for help. He said he had enough money to pay for Jean to go into a home but said he couldn't get her in one."
Mrs Footitt said she tried all sorts of authorities to get help for the couple, including the county council, health services, and Age Concern, but had no luck.
National charity Counsel and Care expressed concern over the deaths.
Chief Executive Stephen Burke said: "We are very concerned that many older people will be affected by the cold weather and cuts in council budgets.
"But everyone needs to be vigilant to ensure that older people requiring extra support get the help they urgently need - whether it's from family, friends or neighbours or from voluntary or statutory agencies."
A Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) review panel will usually comprise social services, health officials and the police as well as any other organisations involved in the case.