8 May 2018

Before Andrew Walker, Senior Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London
North London Coroner’s Court, 29 Wood Street, EN5 4BE
Opens Tuesday 8 May 2018 at 10am and is expected to last four days. 

Anna Anderson, aged 71, died on 5 October 2017, following a fire in her home the previous day, suspected to be caused by a dropped cigarette whilst she was in bed.

Anna suffered from a stroke in 2003 which led to right side paralysis and over the subsequent years she developed a number of health problems. At the time of her death she had been bed bound for over a year. Anna lived in sheltered accommodation provided by the local authority, Haringey Council, through its off-shoot Haringey Homes. She was visited by carers four times a day provided by Flexserve but was otherwise alone for approximately 20 hours a day.

Anna’s family hope the inquest will address the following issues:

• The suitability of Anna’s placement at Latimer House.
• The adequacy of the fire risk assessments given Anna smoked and was bed bound.
• The gap in fire regulations/legislation in relation to Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements, held by vulnerable people, accommodated by the Local Authority.

Tracey Kilford, daughter of Anna Anderson said: “Anna was bed bound and entirely dependant on her carers. We have many deep-seated concerns about the management of fire and risk assessments undertaken at Latimer House. We hope the inquest will explore whether Latimer House was a suitable placement for Anna and whether the fire risk was adequately monitored”. 
 
Deborah Coles, Executive Director of INQUEST said: “The death of Anna raises serious questions around health, safety and fire regulations for people in sheltered accommodation. It is essential that this inquest provides proper scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding Anna’s death and why the local authorities, who were supposed to safeguard her, were not able to keep her safe” .

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information please contact Sarah Uncles on 020 7263 1111 or [email protected]

INQUEST has been supporting the family of Anna Anderson since her death. The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members, Bellamy Forde and Fleur Hallett of McMillan Williams Solicitors and Christopher Williams of Garden Court Chambers.
 
The Interested Persons represented in the inquest proceedings include Anna’s family, the care company Flexserve, and Haringey Council and Homes for Haringey.