Telford wife's death after attack by Alzheimer's husband 'was preventable'

Christine Williamson died in October 2012, 13 days after suffering a brain injury when she was assaulted by her husband Jim, who is in advanced stages of Alzheimer's.

Her death triggered a domestic homicide review to identify what could have been done to prevent her death, the findings of which have been reported to the Home Office. They will be made public at a later date.

But an inquest on Mrs Williamson, 62, from Telford, found that social workers, police, doctors and mental health nurses all knew about isolated incidents of aggression from Mr Williamson, but no-one knew all of the facts that would have flagged up a pattern of assaults and a serious risk to his wife's safety.

Shropshire coroner John Ellery said that if all the professionals aware of the case had communicated with each other, action could have been taken.

He said: "If early action had been taken, Mrs Williamson would have been protected and her death was preventable."

After the inquest, West Mercia Police spokesman Chris Ammonds said: "This is a sad and tragic case where the next of kin have not only lost their mother to her injuries, but also their father to his illness. This matter has been subject to a domestic homicide review panel to ensure that any lessons to be learnt by all the agencies involved are identified and acted upon.

"The CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) carefully reviewed a file of evidence and has taken into account the illness that Mr Williamson is suffering and the care and treatment being provided by the NHS mental health service.

"Following this they have made the decision that it is not in the public interest to take court proceedings against Mr Williamson in connection with the death of his wife."

Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman Russell Griffin said social services would implement all of the recommendations expected to come out of the case. He said: "We are aware of this very sad case, which has been the subject of the first domestic homicide review to take place in Telford and Wrekin since the legislation was introduced.

"We are expecting the executive summary of the overview report to be published in the new year once it has been approved by the Home Office.

"We will be looking at all the recommendations of the review with a view to implementing them as soon as possible as part of the learning that all the agencies involved will draw from this particular case."

The inquest heard that social workers, police officers, mental health nurses and Mrs Williamson's GP all missed chances to make a Protection of Vulnerable Adult referral, which would have given them all access to the full information in the case.