Mark Wood: 'Sweet and gentle' 44-year-old man with mental health problems 'starved to death after benefits cut'

A “sweet and gentle” 44-year-old man with mental health conditions appears to have starved to death after his benefits were cut.

Mark Wood, of Bampton, Oxfordshire, was deemed to be fit for work, which led to his sickness and housing benefits being cut about four months before his death in August last year. This had left him with £40 a week to live on.

His family, who were unaware his benefits had been reduced, said he was a “proud” man who tried to live independently. They called for the Government to change the way people with mental health problems are treated in relation to benefits, The Guardian reported.

Coroner Darren Salter said Mr Wood’s death was probably “caused or contributed to by Wood being markedly underweight and malnourished”, but added it was not possible to establish the cause of death conclusively.

Mr Wood weighed just 5st 8lbs — 35kg — when he died and his doctor, Nicholas Ward, said this body mass index was incompatible with life.

Dr Ward wrote a letter for Mr Wood to give to the Jobcentre, which said he was “extremely unwell and absolutely unfit for any work whatsoever”.

“Please do not stop or reduce his benefits as this will have ongoing, significant impact on his mental health. He simply is not well enough to cope with this extra stress. His mental and medical condition is extremely serious,” the letter added. It is not known if Mr Wood gave the letter to the Jobcentre.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mark-wood-sweet-and-gentle-44yearold-man-with-mental-health-problems-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut-9161749.html

Yet another failure to protect individuals with mental health care problems

so very sad, we need to protect vulnerable people...

heavenly father wrote:so very sad, we need to protect vulnerable people...

We do and sadly Heavenly Father care of those with mental health problems in the UK is disgraceful.  How on earth can things be allowed to deteriorate so far that someone starves to death  

wonder why his family never noticed him losing weight and why didn't check on him , i don't understand this at all . If one of your family are sick or disabled you normally check on them daily or a few times a week .

People with mental health issues should not be in the community - build more asylums like the ones we had in the 70s and 80s.

I don't want my children stabbed to death while walking in a park by some nutjob.

I'm not calling this man a nutjob btw.

BigAndy9 wrote:People with mental health issues should not be in the community - build more asylums like the ones we had in the 70s and 80s.

I don't want my children stabbed to death while walking in a park by some nutjob.

I'm not calling this man a nutjob btw.

As one in four people will suffer from mental health problems at some time you are wanting to lock a hell of a lot of people up.
Berk