Stephen Smith, the emaciated man deemed fit for work has died.

[Mister M 1,594]

Is a pathetic apology from the DWP enough for this? Apparently 'their thoughts are with Stephen Smith's friends and family'. A likely story.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stephen-smith-dwp-benefits-dies-sick-ill-disability-esa-fit-for-work-a8881001.html

 

Pity that corporate manslaughter charges won't be following.

Edited April 23, 2019 by nikki-red

[hauxwell 242]

I would like to know what  medical qualifications the person has who said he was fit for work.  They should be held accountable and sacked from the job.

 

 

Edited April 23, 2019 by hauxwell

[El Cid 210]

47 minutes ago, Mister M said:

Pity that corporate manslaughter charges won't be following.

 

They did apologise, but maybe there should be resignations or contracts lost?

[hackey lad 3,928]

Disgusting and people should be punished , not allowed to retire with a nice pension 

[Mister M 1,594]

36 minutes ago, El Cid said:

They did apologise, but maybe there should be resignations or contracts lost?

The problem is that there can only be so many times officials can apologise for a system that fails people at their most vulnerable, and as a consequence die before people start to think that the cruelty and neglect is institutionalised.

Iain Duncan Smith was allowed to resign with honour over disabilty cuts; Esther McVey was allowed to resign over Brexit. 

[iansheff 84]

And each time something like this happens this is what is released to the press.

 

A DWP spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Stephen Smith. We are committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they’re entitled to.”

 

But they are not getting what they are entitled to, the system is letting people down because the Government are using private companies that are only interested in making money.

[retep 68]

1 hour ago, Mister M said:

The problem is that there can only be so many times officials can apologise for a system that fails people at their most vulnerable, and as a consequence die before people start to think that the cruelty and neglect is institutionalised.

Iain Duncan Smith was allowed to resign with honour over disabilty cuts; Esther McVey was allowed to resign over Brexit. 

Both should be stripped of any benefit they received whilst in office.

[Mister M 1,594]

2 minutes ago, retep said:

Both should be stripped of any benefit they received whilst in office.

I know that Iain Duncan Smith was quite happy to use his expenses to buy things like packs of underwear at the taxpayers expense. When challenged he wafted the challege away, as if it was unimportant.

 

I think publicity and the media shining a spotlight on outrages such as these deaths is key to any change.

My own opinion is that with the honourable exception of Channel 4 News, the Guardian and the Independent most large media outlets tend not to cover stories such as these....so the pressure on ministers is never exerted long enough for things to change. If as many patients, pupils, or any other user of public service died as a consequence of service failings, then the government via the HSE would be spearheading a public inquiry.

[francypants 441]

DISGUSTING !!!

Heads should roll for this.

Whoever turned him down in the first place should hold their head in shame, hopefully they will rot in hell.

 

Stephen Smith you poor soul ........  R.I.P.

 

[hackey lad 3,928]

I agree with the sentiments on here but not sure about the thread title. Think it needs something more dignified 

[zach 233]

They are appalling people. For Gods sake, just look at the bloke! 

 

When I had to go there, they had decided that I wasn't ill, when I gave them the sick note from the GP they said "that's no good to us as it's the same condition we say you don't have"  When I tried explaining that it says that on the note because my GP, the Prof from the Hallamshire and another specialist doctor say I do. Their reply was very quick...We are sanctioning you. That was it. Worked since I was 16, never claimed but treat like dirt because an illness took 15 years but eventually got the better of me. I was lucky in that I had a couple of quid to fall back on, my heart really does go out to the genuinely ill people that have to bow to this scum just to eat!

 

I honestly could write a book on how they treat people... none of it would have a happy ending.

[alchresearch 208]

1 hour ago, Mister M said:

My own opinion is that with the honourable exception of Channel 4 News, the Guardian and the Independent most large media outlets tend not to cover stories such as these....so the pressure on ministers is never exerted long enough for things to change. 

The problem is that ministers are toothless figureheads of the civil service departments they're drafted into for a short period (between reshuffles or elections).

 

So, Labour or Tory front end, you've still got the same civil service back end.

 

Yes Minister may have been a comedy show, but there's so much truth in it that it's frightening.  I speak from personal experience.