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http://www.camdennewjournal.com/letters/2010/jun/losing-track-jennyfer-proved-fatal
Losing track of Jennyfer proved fatal
Camden New Journal 24 June, 2010
I WAS tempted to respond to John Stratton's letter (Unfair to council staff, June 17) in an irate manner but I realise this correspondent is probably just a little naive.
Here are a few pointers for him:He says “Camden has one of the most outstanding and caring social services organisations in the country”.
As rated by whom? Certainly not by anyone I’ve ever encountered who’s ever been in the system (that’s quite a few!).
He also states: “Your persistence in running this story is distasteful and grossly unfair to Camden staff”.
Not as distasteful as losing track of Jennyfer Spencer which ultimately could’ve prevented her untimely death. Nor, I would suggest, as “grossly unfair” as detached and arrogant council management staff are to many residents in Camden.
Finally Mr Stratton states: “The woman (Jennyfer had a name you know) died in unknown circumstances which have already been investigated…” Frankly the council’s complaints and investigations procedure is a very unfunny joke.
Any complaint made against an individual is investigated by their friends and colleagues which could hardly be described as independent and is promptly rejected (surprise, surprise).
Unsurprising is the usual silence from the three main parties’ councillors on the issue of Jennyfer’s tragic death.
History has shown, notably in recent events, that governments – local and national – cannot be trusted to handle mistakes in-house and the judiciary and independent public inquiries are the only fair ways to investigate such things.
Sincere condolences to Jennyfer Spencer’s family and friends and good luck in securing a proper investigation into these tragic events.
JOHN LAWSON
http://www.camdennewjournal.com/letters/2010/jun/unfair-council-staff Unfair to council staff Published: 17 June, 2010
IT is a gross impertinence for demonstrators to hold up placards stating that disability discrimination and racism killed Jennyfer Spencer. Camden has one of the most caring and outstanding social services organisations in the country and is the absolute opposite of racist when one considers all they try to do to ensure ethnic equality in their employment and in their publicity.
It is quite evident from reports that their officers bent over backwards to try to help, even consulting their legal experts as to how far they could go in trying to contact her.
It is no good blaming them for failure to provide suitable housing if they made numerous offers and she refused all of them because she wanted to stay in the district.
You can hardly expect them to throw someone out of a suitable ground-floor flat if there were no others available.
Bearing in mind the desperate housing shortage for ordinary folk in Camden it is hardly surprising that specially-equipped, ground-floor, flats are at a premium.
Your persistence in running this story is distasteful and grossly unfair to Camden staff.
The woman died in unknown circumstances which have already been thoroughly investigated by the council (who tried to do everything to prevent it), the police and the coroner and any further inquiry is unlikely to come up with any more answers, cost a great deal of time and money and occupy officers who need to be looking after other people who are in equal need.
Let the woman rest in peace.
What does need investigating is how some of the money in her special allowance account has apparently disappeared after her death.
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