Severely Disabled Southsea Woman Left to Die just Days Before Christmas By Portmouth Council

A severely disabled woman from Southsea died after Portsmouth City Council cut her off from 18 care agencies. Anne Savidge, 64, pictured at the Bandstand in happier times, was unable to leave her bed to eat, to drink, or go to the toilet, and was left alone and isolated to fend for herself only days before Christmas. Miss Savidge’s care services were cut off on 10th December after claims she had ‘verbally abused’ staff. Six days later, she was rushed from her home in Brandon Court on Lawrence Road to QA Hospital, where she tragically died on 21st December. The disturbing reality of the former midwife’s final days was made public by disabilities campaigner Geoff Holt, a friend of Anne’s. It was Holt’s confrontation of a council meeting last week that sparked an urgent investigation into the death. At the meeting he told shocked councillors and the public gallery that he couldn’t believe the council had no ‘plan B’ to provide care for the ailing woman. “Anne sat there, mostly in her wheelchair, for five days, in pain, her bladder tumour now oozing blood on her clothes, no food, frightened to drink because she would wet herself and not even having her hands and face washed,” he said. “I am in no doubt whatsoever Anne’s lack of care over that period was to blame (for her death).” Mr Holt said he had also written to Solent NHS Trust who ignored his requests. Disgracefully the NHS Trust ignored the plight of the severely disabled and vulnerable pensioner. One person who listened was Portsmouth South Labour MP Stephen Morgan who said that he would assist Mr Holt were he could in highlighting the dangerous situation that his friend was in prior to her death. A Portsmouth City Council spokeswoman confirmed that an investigation into Savidge’s death is now underway. The Adult Social Care team at Portsmouth City Council works with some of the city’s most vulnerable residents, day in and day out,” she said. At the meeting of full council on Tuesday 13th February 2018, it was agreed that an investigation into the care received by Anne Savidge should take place, led by Portsmouth City Council’s chief executive David Williams. It would be inappropriate to comment until this investigation is complete and the findings have been published.

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