'Neglected' Pensioner's Death Investigated

Police are investigating the death of a pensioner who was left without care in her own home for nine days.

Gloria Foster, 81, was found suffering from dehydration and starvation after going without the four daily visits she was supposed to have.

She had been receiving help in her own home in Banstead, Surrey, from Carefirst24. But Surrey County Council became responsible for her care after a number of its workers were arrested last month following a UK Border Agency (UKBA) raid.

Surrey Police said officers are now looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident after Mrs Foster died in hospital on Monday.

Sky News reporter Charlotte Lomas-Farley said Ms Foster, who had no family, had been receiving care for four years and had deteriorated rapidly.

She said: "Neighbours who knew Gloria well said they're deeply shocked at the news of her death.

"They said she was a quiet lady who kept herself to herself but was also independent as she could be."

A police spokesman said: "Concerns surrounding Gloria's care were raised to Surrey Police at the end of January by staff at the hospital where she died on Monday, February 4, and officers are now looking into the circumstances surrounding her death.

"The Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board has also been convened and they are conducting a parallel investigation."

A spokesman for UKBA said it met local authorities ahead of the raid to warn them of what they were going to do so they could arrange alternative care for the company's clients.

Its officers arrested six people, including a Mauritian man and a Filipino man and woman, on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to assist foreign nationals at Carefirst24's headquarters in Upper Mulgrave Road, Sutton, on January 15 and at a separate south London address the day before.

All those arrested were later bailed until various dates in April.