Coroner slams neglect after 12-year-old Raihana Awolaja dies in Surrey care home
“She should have been observed” – Coroner’s damning verdict
A coroner has ruled neglect contributed to the tragic death of 12-year-old Raihana Awolaja, who suffered a cardiac arrest after being left unsupervised at a specialist care home in Surrey.
Born prematurely with complex medical needs, Raihana collapsed at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth on May 29, 2023, and died three days later at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
Senior Coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox declared that “on the balance of probabilities” Raihana would still be alive had she been properly watched. Her death was ruled “natural causes contributed to by neglect.”
Neglect uncovered: Nurse left Raihana alone for 15 minutes
The inquest revealed that the nurse assigned one-to-one care briefly left Raihana unattended to do admin tasks. Although cover was claimed to have been arranged, the responsibility was passed around and Raihana was left alone for about 15 minutes.
When the nurse returned, Raihana was in cardiac arrest. Despite rushed efforts, she sadly passed away days later.
Heartbreaking warnings ignored by carers and council
Raihana’s mother, Latifat Kehinde Solomon, repeatedly warned both The Children’s Trust and Croydon Council that her daughter was not receiving the constant supervision she desperately needed.
Her concerns were reportedly ignored, exposing fatal failings in the care system.
Coroner blasts “culture of cover-up” at The Children’s Trust
Professor Wilcox accused the care home of fostering a “culture of cover-up,” blaming an innocent individual in a flawed internal probe instead of owning up to systemic failings.
“They carried out a flawed investigation after this incident, pushing blame onto an innocent individual and thereby avoiding highlighting systemic failures and learning… risking lessons that could prevent future deaths,” said Prof Wilcox.
Children’s Trust and Croydon Council admit serious failings
Mike Thiedke, CEO of The Children’s Trust, admitted Raihana wasn’t properly observed and offered an unreserved apology to her family.
He confirmed new measures including:
- A full review of care procedures
- Boosted frontline staffing
- Improved systems for handling family concerns
- Enhanced training and supervision protocols
Croydon Council expressed “deep regret” and acknowledged the care provided fell short of expectations. They pledged to work with the Trust to ensure lasting change.
A preventable tragedy sparking calls for urgent reform
Raihana’s death shines a harsh spotlight on the care system’s failure to protect vulnerable children. With families and charities demanding tighter regulation and accountability, her case is a tragic warning about the cost of ignored warnings and systemic neglect.
If you have concerns about care standards or child safeguarding, contact Ofsted or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
