Hostel death probes 'should be done independently'

A homelessness charity has called for deaths in hostels to be investigated independently in the wake of a death at a central London hostel.

Philip Burke, a trustee of the Simon Community, said such inquiries should be undertaken by an independent body, such as the Health & Safety Executive.

Burke said: "You can't have an organisation investigating itself with something as serious as this."

He was speaking after Bridge Housing Association announced that it had changed its procedures after an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man at its hostel in Dean Street, Soho.

Deaths in hostels are not unusual because homeless people are often in poor health.

But if there has been no foul play or negligence, there is no onus on the service provider to subject itself to independent scrutiny after such a death. Neither do they have to undertake an internal inquiry, although many choose to.

The body of Samuel Keenan, who was in his 60s, was found on the afternoon of 27 February.

He had been seen alive on Wednesday 25 February but had apparently lain dead for some time despite being on a register for people in ill health that meant staff checked on him at least twice a day. He also had daily care visits from Westminster social services.

A statement from Bridge's parent group, Novas-Ouvertures, said hostel staff looked into Keenan's room on the Thursday morning, were confident that he was asleep, and checked again in the afternoon.

Bridge carried out an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The association and Westminster council, which partly funds the hostel, are also investigating claims that a council care worker was told Keenan was out when they visited on the mornings of 26 and 27 February.

A council spokesman said: "Westminster closely monitors the provision of services by the hostel we commissioned under Supporting People. We have asked Bridge to investigate and ensure it review its procedures."

A spokeswoman for Novas-Ouvertures said: "Although the results of the review showed that there was no poor practice found at the hostel, Bridge has increased the care checks from two to three times a day. Westminster council is satisfied with the review and has not requested any further investigation into the incident."

Maria Donoghue-Mills, chief executive of Novas-Ouvertures, said: "Deaths in hostels are investigated according to best practice and statutory requirements, including the HSE, depending on the circumstances. Statutory authorities have been satisfied with the investigations conducted following Mr Keenan's death."