Disabled Woman Dies Choking on Cake Despite Diet Warnings

A disabled woman, Emma Turner, tragically died in January 2023 at her Derby home after choking on cake. Therapists had previously advised her to consume only pureed food due to her profound disability, quadriplegic athetoid cerebral palsy. An inquest, concluded recently, has exposed significant problems with information sharing between various health and social care services involved in her care.

Assistant coroner Sabyta Kaushal issued a prevention of future deaths report, noting a lack of regular communication between agencies and inadequate addressing of safeguarding referrals. Speech and language therapists had not assessed Turner in person for 11 years between child and adult services. While pureed food was recommended, no face-to-face assessments for clinical or social needs, nor welfare checks, occurred from 2019 until her death.

The coroner emphasized that Turner's mother, who acted as her carer, should have received more support and clearer information regarding Emma's best interests. Despite a history of family disengagement, safeguarding referrals were made, but poor information sharing practices hampered agencies' ability to collaborate effectively. Authorities, including Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council, are now required to respond to the coroner's findings by April 23rd, with steps being taken to improve safeguarding and information sharing processes.