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When elderly care goes wrong	When elderly care goes wrong
2013-06-29 08:40:07 UTC	2013-09-25 22:16:50 UTC (3 months later)
Until mid-January this year, carers would drive to Gloria Foster's ground-floor flat in Surrey four times a day, to get her out of bed, wash her and give her breakfast, before returning later to heat up some lunch in the microwave, make sure she took her medication, wash her clothes, and later still to bath her and put her to bed. The carers, employed by the now defunct Carefirst24, were fond of this frail, 81-year-old widow, and were painstaking in making sure she was well fed and comfortable.	Until mid-January this year, carers would drive to Gloria Foster's ground-floor flat in Surrey four times a day, to get her out of bed, wash her and give her breakfast, before returning later to heat up some lunch in the microwave, make sure she took her medication, wash her clothes, and later still to bath her and put her to bed. The carers, employed by the now defunct Carefirst24, were fond of this frail, 81-year-old widow, and were painstaking in making sure she was well fed and comfortable.
Some time on 15 January, Carefirst24 was raided by officers from the UK Border Agency, in response to allegations that it was employing illegal immigrants. Nine people were arrested, the business was shut down and the UKBA sent out a press notice expressing satisfaction at a "successful operation" and determination to "do whatever is necessary to investigate alleged abuses of our immigration system".	Some time on 15 January, Carefirst24 was raided by officers from the UK Border Agency, in response to allegations that it was employing illegal immigrants. Nine people were arrested, the business was shut down and the UKBA sent out a press notice expressing satisfaction at a "successful operation" and determination to "do whatever is necessary to investigate alleged abuses of our immigration system".
Although emergency care was provided for the other clients on Carefirst24's lists, somehow Mrs Foster was forgotten. She lay abandoned for nine days in her flat, without food, water or medication, until a district nurse made a chance visit and raised the alarm. When she was found, she was starving, dehydrated, covered with bedsores and with a barely discernible pulse.	Although emergency care was provided for the other clients on Carefirst24's lists, somehow Mrs Foster was forgotten. She lay abandoned for nine days in her flat, without food, water or medication, until a district nurse made a chance visit and raised the alarm. When she was found, she was starving, dehydrated, covered with bedsores and with a barely discernible pulse.
Her best friend, Ann Penston, picked up a message that evening from Foster's GP, saying she had been taken into hospital and asking her to look into why the care home had stopped visiting. The ambulance men who took Foster away had read the carers' logbook, which noted details of the last visit on 15 January: she was given spaghetti bolognese and fruit juice, and left watching TV.	Her best friend, Ann Penston, picked up a message that evening from Foster's GP, saying she had been taken into hospital and asking her to look into why the care home had stopped visiting. The ambulance men who took Foster away had read the carers' logbook, which noted details of the last visit on 15 January: she was given spaghetti bolognese and fruit juice, and left watching TV.
Penston rushed to the flat, where she noticed rotting fruit on the table and a powerful smell. She thinks her friend had been lying on her bed, waiting for someone to come to look after her. There was no evidence that she had tried to feed herself or get help. By this stage in her life she was confused and entirely reliant on her carers.	Penston rushed to the flat, where she noticed rotting fruit on the table and a powerful smell. She thinks her friend had been lying on her bed, waiting for someone to come to look after her. There was no evidence that she had tried to feed herself or get help. By this stage in her life she was confused and entirely reliant on her carers.
Desperate to find out what had happened, Penston drove to the care company, where she found the office in darkness. A woman from a neighbouring building told her, "They were closed down last week by immigration."	Desperate to find out what had happened, Penston drove to the care company, where she found the office in darkness. A woman from a neighbouring building told her, "They were closed down last week by immigration."
Penston gathered underwear and nightdresses, and took them to Epsom hospital, where her friend was lying unresponsive: "The nurse came and tried to wake Gloria up. But she wouldn't." Eleven days after being admitted, Gloria Foster died without fully recovering consciousness.	Penston gathered underwear and nightdresses, and took them to Epsom hospital, where her friend was lying unresponsive: "The nurse came and tried to wake Gloria up. But she wouldn't." Eleven days after being admitted, Gloria Foster died without fully recovering consciousness.
What went so catastrophically wrong that she was forgotten for so long? Precise details won't be known until Surrey county council publishes a report later this summer. In the meantime, family and friends are becoming anxious at the absence of information about the circumstances surrounding her death. Although Foster's plight was briefly headline news, there is concern it has not triggered more widespread outrage and a speedier analysis from the authorities of what went wrong. They wonder if there might have been more urgency if the victim had been a child or an adult with disabilities, not someone who was simply elderly.	What went so catastrophically wrong that she was forgotten for so long? Precise details won't be known until Surrey county council publishes a report later this summer. In the meantime, family and friends are becoming anxious at the absence of information about the circumstances surrounding her death. Although Foster's plight was briefly headline news, there is concern it has not triggered more widespread outrage and a speedier analysis from the authorities of what went wrong. They wonder if there might have been more urgency if the victim had been a child or an adult with disabilities, not someone who was simply elderly.
In the absence of a clear explanation, those close to her have developed their own theories, and each views Foster's death as an indirect consequence of the way we look after the elderly. They wonder if it should be linked to a decision by councils to outsource care to private companies. They point out how reliant councils have become on migrant labour. A local care company owner estimates that 70% of the care force in Surrey is from overseas, because the job is so badly paid and has such a bad reputation. "People still refer to them as bum wipers," he says. Although Penston makes it clear that Foster had plenty of friends, she wonders if such a death would have been possible in another era, when communities were less fractured.	In the absence of a clear explanation, those close to her have developed their own theories, and each views Foster's death as an indirect consequence of the way we look after the elderly. They wonder if it should be linked to a decision by councils to outsource care to private companies. They point out how reliant councils have become on migrant labour. A local care company owner estimates that 70% of the care force in Surrey is from overseas, because the job is so badly paid and has such a bad reputation. "People still refer to them as bum wipers," he says. Although Penston makes it clear that Foster had plenty of friends, she wonders if such a death would have been possible in another era, when communities were less fractured.
Gloria Foster's name has become synonymous with the tragic way she died – a distressing fact for people who knew her, who are at pains to reclaim her as an energetic and much-loved friend, rather than simply a notorious victim of a bureaucratic oversight. A secretary for Shell, Gloria was posted to Canada and later to Africa, where she met her future husband, Bob Foster. They were due to be posted to Iran, but he was killed in a car crash only a few months after the wedding. Widowed and without children, Gloria developed a tremendously active social life and spent much of her time playing golf, tennis and bridge. Around 60 friends came to her funeral, and remembered her as someone very upbeat, passionate and fun.	Gloria Foster's name has become synonymous with the tragic way she died – a distressing fact for people who knew her, who are at pains to reclaim her as an energetic and much-loved friend, rather than simply a notorious victim of a bureaucratic oversight. A secretary for Shell, Gloria was posted to Canada and later to Africa, where she met her future husband, Bob Foster. They were due to be posted to Iran, but he was killed in a car crash only a few months after the wedding. Widowed and without children, Gloria developed a tremendously active social life and spent much of her time playing golf, tennis and bridge. Around 60 friends came to her funeral, and remembered her as someone very upbeat, passionate and fun.
Most, however, had not seen her for some time because in her last few years she had become ill and withdrawn. Vivien Saunders, a former British golf champion, who for some years shared a house with Foster, says that after a mini-stroke in 2006, "she just didn't want visitors, didn't want people to see her. She'd been incredibly glamorous, she loved life, but she became a recluse."	Most, however, had not seen her for some time because in her last few years she had become ill and withdrawn. Vivien Saunders, a former British golf champion, who for some years shared a house with Foster, says that after a mini-stroke in 2006, "she just didn't want visitors, didn't want people to see her. She'd been incredibly glamorous, she loved life, but she became a recluse."
It was only Penston, another former Shell employee, to whom Gloria had given power of attorney, who kept in regular contact. By the end of Gloria's life, Penston was doing a great deal for her – organising care, checking up on medical appointments, regularly visiting – and she is able to give the most detailed account of her final days.	It was only Penston, another former Shell employee, to whom Gloria had given power of attorney, who kept in regular contact. By the end of Gloria's life, Penston was doing a great deal for her – organising care, checking up on medical appointments, regularly visiting – and she is able to give the most detailed account of her final days.
Penston had chosen Carefirst24 to be carers in 2007, after Foster's stroke, by which time she was on 18 pills a day – anti-psychotic drugs, tablets for diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure – and receiving no state care. She had a widow's pension from Shell and was able to afford £2,000 a month for the private care company to look after her, four times a day, every day of the year.	Penston had chosen Carefirst24 to be carers in 2007, after Foster's stroke, by which time she was on 18 pills a day – anti-psychotic drugs, tablets for diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure – and receiving no state care. She had a widow's pension from Shell and was able to afford £2,000 a month for the private care company to look after her, four times a day, every day of the year.
"She wasn't very happy to begin with," Penston says. "No one wants strangers in their home." But friends' offers of help were rejected: "She wouldn't see any of them, wouldn't go out. If anyone came over, she'd talk to them on the doorstep."	"She wasn't very happy to begin with," Penston says. "No one wants strangers in their home." But friends' offers of help were rejected: "She wouldn't see any of them, wouldn't go out. If anyone came over, she'd talk to them on the doorstep."
For a while, Penston remained very involved in her friend's care, trying to get her eyes checked when she said she had gone blind. "For a year or so, that was my life, going back and forth to Gloria. I'd check the freezer to make sure there was food, read the mail, check they were doing their job."	For a while, Penston remained very involved in her friend's care, trying to get her eyes checked when she said she had gone blind. "For a year or so, that was my life, going back and forth to Gloria. I'd check the freezer to make sure there was food, read the mail, check they were doing their job."
Gradually, she allowed the care company to take over, dropping by once a week to see everything was OK. She was impressed by the standard of care ("Gloria was never very keen on housework, so the flat was much tidier and cleaner") and was on good terms with two of the carers, both of whom had moved relatively recently to this country. There was a Bulgarian, Katya, in her 50s, who left suddenly 18 months ago when she had to go home. More recently, there was Marietta, from the Philippines. "They both seemed quite fond of Gloria," Penston says. "I saw Marietta just before Christmas. She was going away for a while and said, 'I'm so worried; I don't want to leave Gloria. I'm going to make sure they give her a nice carer.'"	Gradually, she allowed the care company to take over, dropping by once a week to see everything was OK. She was impressed by the standard of care ("Gloria was never very keen on housework, so the flat was much tidier and cleaner") and was on good terms with two of the carers, both of whom had moved relatively recently to this country. There was a Bulgarian, Katya, in her 50s, who left suddenly 18 months ago when she had to go home. More recently, there was Marietta, from the Philippines. "They both seemed quite fond of Gloria," Penston says. "I saw Marietta just before Christmas. She was going away for a while and said, 'I'm so worried; I don't want to leave Gloria. I'm going to make sure they give her a nice carer.'"
By the beginning of this year, Foster had become incapable of doing anything for herself, Penston says, and barely registered her friend's visits. She might say hello, when someone visited; if Penston asked if she was all right, on a good day she would reply, "Yes, thank you." She said very little else.	By the beginning of this year, Foster had become incapable of doing anything for herself, Penston says, and barely registered her friend's visits. She might say hello, when someone visited; if Penston asked if she was all right, on a good day she would reply, "Yes, thank you." She said very little else.
"The carers said you had to tell her what to do. They would take her out sometimes – she'd go with them in the car – but she wouldn't walk round the block any more. She just seemed to close down."	"The carers said you had to tell her what to do. They would take her out sometimes – she'd go with them in the car – but she wouldn't walk round the block any more. She just seemed to close down."
What happened next is more hazy. We know that on Tuesday 15 January, UKBA officials raided the nearby Sutton offices of Carefirst24, a red-brick office that still advertises its services with photographs in the windows of a friendly woman in a pink T-shirt clasping the hands of an elderly woman. The company slogan is displayed prominently: "Putting People Before Profit."	What happened next is more hazy. We know that on Tuesday 15 January, UKBA officials raided the nearby Sutton offices of Carefirst24, a red-brick office that still advertises its services with photographs in the windows of a friendly woman in a pink T-shirt clasping the hands of an elderly woman. The company slogan is displayed prominently: "Putting People Before Profit."
We also know that in the week before the raid, UKBA had at least one meeting with staff from Surrey and Sutton councils, to give them time to line up alternative care for the clients. There were 21 people in Surrey being looked after by Carefirst24, some private clients, some getting support paid for by the council but outsourced to the company. UKBA officials found a list of clients during the raid, which they passed to Surrey and Sutton councils. We don't know what happened next within the councils, as neither will comment until publication of the independent review.	We also know that in the week before the raid, UKBA had at least one meeting with staff from Surrey and Sutton councils, to give them time to line up alternative care for the clients. There were 21 people in Surrey being looked after by Carefirst24, some private clients, some getting support paid for by the council but outsourced to the company. UKBA officials found a list of clients during the raid, which they passed to Surrey and Sutton councils. We don't know what happened next within the councils, as neither will comment until publication of the independent review.
Nine people were arrested in connection with Carefirst24: two British women, aged 48 and 52, a 52-year-old British man, a 34-year-old Mauritian man, a 42-year-old Mauritian woman, two women and a man from the Philippines – all on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration. A 35-year-old Iranian man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They have been bailed until dates in July and August.	Nine people were arrested in connection with Carefirst24: two British women, aged 48 and 52, a 52-year-old British man, a 34-year-old Mauritian man, a 42-year-old Mauritian woman, two women and a man from the Philippines – all on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration. A 35-year-old Iranian man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They have been bailed until dates in July and August.
Penston, who is calm and composed when she recounts the details of her friend's life and death, becomes distressed when she explains that on Thursday 17 January, she popped into Foster's flat to check everything was all right. "I went in there a day and a half after they cut off care. It seemed an ordinary day. The flat was warm. I picked up the mail. I looked in the kitchen and saw the light on the washing machine was on. There was food in the fridge and the freezer. I sat at the table and opened the mail. I went into Gloria's room. She had her clothes on and was lying on the bed, facing the window, dozing. I often found her like that when I went in, asleep or dozing. I said, 'Gloria, are you OK?' She didn't answer immediately but then she grunted, as if she were half asleep."	Penston, who is calm and composed when she recounts the details of her friend's life and death, becomes distressed when she explains that on Thursday 17 January, she popped into Foster's flat to check everything was all right. "I went in there a day and a half after they cut off care. It seemed an ordinary day. The flat was warm. I picked up the mail. I looked in the kitchen and saw the light on the washing machine was on. There was food in the fridge and the freezer. I sat at the table and opened the mail. I went into Gloria's room. She had her clothes on and was lying on the bed, facing the window, dozing. I often found her like that when I went in, asleep or dozing. I said, 'Gloria, are you OK?' She didn't answer immediately but then she grunted, as if she were half asleep."
Penston says it is hard for her to think about that visit. "People will say, 'Why didn't you go over and shake her and wake her up?' They don't understand the situation; she isolated herself from people. And by this stage of life she dozed a lot… I could go into or out of the flat without her knowing I was there."	Penston says it is hard for her to think about that visit. "People will say, 'Why didn't you go over and shake her and wake her up?' They don't understand the situation; she isolated herself from people. And by this stage of life she dozed a lot… I could go into or out of the flat without her knowing I was there."
No one who meets Penston could think that she behaved with anything other than dedication towards her friend, but she feels distraught that she failed to notice anything during this visit. "It's quite an emotional thing for me to have gone in there and not realise that she had been abandoned. It's something I find hard to deal with. There are a lot of ifs, ifs, ifs."	No one who meets Penston could think that she behaved with anything other than dedication towards her friend, but she feels distraught that she failed to notice anything during this visit. "It's quite an emotional thing for me to have gone in there and not realise that she had been abandoned. It's something I find hard to deal with. There are a lot of ifs, ifs, ifs."
She went home and emailed Carefirst24 to tell them there was a letter saying Gloria had missed a hospital appointment. Penston received no reply, but didn't think the silence was significant.	She went home and emailed Carefirst24 to tell them there was a letter saying Gloria had missed a hospital appointment. Penston received no reply, but didn't think the silence was significant.
The next communication she had about Gloria was the message she picked up from the GP on 24 January, telling her that Foster had been taken to Epsom hospital. The hospital was very welcoming the first time she visited, and told her that Foster was fine and would be out in a few days. She was surprised by the nurse's relaxed attitude. "It didn't strike me that she was aware she had been left for nine days," Penston says. When she called a day or so later to get an update on Foster's condition, the staff were very abrupt and said all inquiries needed to go to another office. By that point the media had heard about the case and were also being directed to call that number, and Penston was unable to get through.	The next communication she had about Gloria was the message she picked up from the GP on 24 January, telling her that Foster had been taken to Epsom hospital. The hospital was very welcoming the first time she visited, and told her that Foster was fine and would be out in a few days. She was surprised by the nurse's relaxed attitude. "It didn't strike me that she was aware she had been left for nine days," Penston says. When she called a day or so later to get an update on Foster's condition, the staff were very abrupt and said all inquiries needed to go to another office. By that point the media had heard about the case and were also being directed to call that number, and Penston was unable to get through.
Foster's brother-in-law, Tony de-Keyzer, 85, was turned away from the hospital when he tried to visit. "I thought it was odd," he says, "but I thought I would speak to senior management the next day. By that point she had died."	Foster's brother-in-law, Tony de-Keyzer, 85, was turned away from the hospital when he tried to visit. "I thought it was odd," he says, "but I thought I would speak to senior management the next day. By that point she had died."
A postmortem established that the cause of death on Monday 4 February was pulmonary thromboembolism and deep-vein thrombosis. Penston notes that Foster was meant to take the blood-thinning medication warfarin, and wonders if her failure to do so while she was forgotten may have caused this. Her friend's death has left her very shaken. Single, with no children, she worries that she could find herself similarly vulnerable. "I could be Gloria. At her funeral, a lot of people were saying they are worried it will happen to them. That's the fear. Gloria had done everything she should have done. She had everything in place. But she was let down and suffered unnecessarily.	A postmortem established that the cause of death on Monday 4 February was pulmonary thromboembolism and deep-vein thrombosis. Penston notes that Foster was meant to take the blood-thinning medication warfarin, and wonders if her failure to do so while she was forgotten may have caused this. Her friend's death has left her very shaken. Single, with no children, she worries that she could find herself similarly vulnerable. "I could be Gloria. At her funeral, a lot of people were saying they are worried it will happen to them. That's the fear. Gloria had done everything she should have done. She had everything in place. But she was let down and suffered unnecessarily.
"I do think about what it must have been like. When you are dehydrated, you are in a lot of pain, then get delusions. It must have been horrendous. We don't deserve to be abandoned like that."	"I do think about what it must have been like. When you are dehydrated, you are in a lot of pain, then get delusions. It must have been horrendous. We don't deserve to be abandoned like that."
Foster's flat is on the ground floor of a suburban block, the last road before the countryside begins. It is a very quiet street. Even if she had managed to venture outside, there might not have been anyone around to help her. The place does not leave you with a sense of urban disconnect, just a feeling that people are busy with their own lives. There was a neighbour who used to keep an eye on her, but last year she met someone and moved away to get married.	Foster's flat is on the ground floor of a suburban block, the last road before the countryside begins. It is a very quiet street. Even if she had managed to venture outside, there might not have been anyone around to help her. The place does not leave you with a sense of urban disconnect, just a feeling that people are busy with their own lives. There was a neighbour who used to keep an eye on her, but last year she met someone and moved away to get married.
Penston laments the passing of a time where people would be out on their doorsteps, chatting and keeping an eye out for their neighbours. "I can remember people standing by their gates and talking to people as they came home from work. People don't sit in their front gardens now; they sit in their back gardens."	Penston laments the passing of a time where people would be out on their doorsteps, chatting and keeping an eye out for their neighbours. "I can remember people standing by their gates and talking to people as they came home from work. People don't sit in their front gardens now; they sit in their back gardens."
Tony de-Keyzer thinks the decision of Surrey county council, like all other councils, to outsource care of the elderly to private companies probably holds the answer to what went wrong here. "I imagine cost-cutting is at the root of it," he says. "I disagree with the idea of privatisation and putting care out to contract. It costs a certain amount to look after someone – mainly paying the carer. I can't conceive of how they think a private company can do it cheaper or better than Surrey county council. They have to make a profit, and the only way you can do that is by cutting costs."	Tony de-Keyzer thinks the decision of Surrey county council, like all other councils, to outsource care of the elderly to private companies probably holds the answer to what went wrong here. "I imagine cost-cutting is at the root of it," he says. "I disagree with the idea of privatisation and putting care out to contract. It costs a certain amount to look after someone – mainly paying the carer. I can't conceive of how they think a private company can do it cheaper or better than Surrey county council. They have to make a profit, and the only way you can do that is by cutting costs."
Jo Wood, the daughter of Foster's oldest friend, Myra Elliot, who died in 2005, is frustrated that family and friends have been given so little information. "I think there has been a really big cock-up," she says. Penston, too, is amazed by the council's refusal to give any details, pointing out that this is not an insignificant story of local interest only. "This story went to China, Indonesia; all the world knows about Gloria Foster."	Jo Wood, the daughter of Foster's oldest friend, Myra Elliot, who died in 2005, is frustrated that family and friends have been given so little information. "I think there has been a really big cock-up," she says. Penston, too, is amazed by the council's refusal to give any details, pointing out that this is not an insignificant story of local interest only. "This story went to China, Indonesia; all the world knows about Gloria Foster."
Andrew Povey, a former head of Surrey county council, who now runs his own care company, Help Unlimited – a similar-sized operation to Carefirst24 – has been noisily calling for the current council leader, David Hodge, to admit responsibility and resign. It is true that Povey and Hodge (also a Conservative) have not been on good terms since Hodge took over from Povey in 2011. But Povey is very well informed about the care industry and extremely angry about what has happened. "Who is going to take accountability?" he asks. "This lady died an awful death, a long and horrible death. And all this time they haven't said anything. The worry is that if there are lessons to be learned, we are not learning them."	Andrew Povey, a former head of Surrey county council, who now runs his own care company, Help Unlimited – a similar-sized operation to Carefirst24 – has been noisily calling for the current council leader, David Hodge, to admit responsibility and resign. It is true that Povey and Hodge (also a Conservative) have not been on good terms since Hodge took over from Povey in 2011. But Povey is very well informed about the care industry and extremely angry about what has happened. "Who is going to take accountability?" he asks. "This lady died an awful death, a long and horrible death. And all this time they haven't said anything. The worry is that if there are lessons to be learned, we are not learning them."
Much of the problem stems from the fact that care for the elderly is a subject most people prefer not to think about, Povey believes. When he was leader, around £365m was spent annually by Surrey on adult social care – £1m a day – but few people would raise questions on the issue during council meetings. "No one was very interested."	Much of the problem stems from the fact that care for the elderly is a subject most people prefer not to think about, Povey believes. When he was leader, around £365m was spent annually by Surrey on adult social care – £1m a day – but few people would raise questions on the issue during council meetings. "No one was very interested."
He estimates that about 90% of the care provided by Surrey has been contracted out to small companies such as Carefirst24 and his own business. Because carework pays so poorly, and because Surrey is a relatively rich part of the country, recruitment of staff is a constant problem.	He estimates that about 90% of the care provided by Surrey has been contracted out to small companies such as Carefirst24 and his own business. Because carework pays so poorly, and because Surrey is a relatively rich part of the country, recruitment of staff is a constant problem.
A number of campaigns – by the Resolution Foundation and the London Living Wage – are pushing for care workers to be better paid, arguing that, currently, the country's worst-paid workers, with some of the worst working conditions, are the people we rely on to look after our parents and grandparents. "Is there any other industry that pays the lowest possible wages, where you are asking those people to perform the most intimate actions that you perform on anyone – personal care?" Povey asks. "In Surrey, we are reliant on overseas labour, because it is not a job that people want to do." He agrees that carers should be paid more, but wonders how realistic it is to expect councils to allocate more. "Social services' budgets are stretched. If you want to pay more, it will cost billions."	A number of campaigns – by the Resolution Foundation and the London Living Wage – are pushing for care workers to be better paid, arguing that, currently, the country's worst-paid workers, with some of the worst working conditions, are the people we rely on to look after our parents and grandparents. "Is there any other industry that pays the lowest possible wages, where you are asking those people to perform the most intimate actions that you perform on anyone – personal care?" Povey asks. "In Surrey, we are reliant on overseas labour, because it is not a job that people want to do." He agrees that carers should be paid more, but wonders how realistic it is to expect councils to allocate more. "Social services' budgets are stretched. If you want to pay more, it will cost billions."
In May, Surrey police announced that, after an "extensive investigation looking at the circumstances leading up to Ms Foster's tragic death" and on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, they would not be pressing charges.	In May, Surrey police announced that, after an "extensive investigation looking at the circumstances leading up to Ms Foster's tragic death" and on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, they would not be pressing charges.