Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Sindy Woodhall

Ref: 2014-0292 Date: 1 Jul 2014 Coroner: Lisa Hashmi Area: Manchester (North) Responses identified: 4 / 4 View PDF

A lack of regulation prevented intervention when retailers sold toxic gases to a known addict, highlighting a gap in the law and enforcement powers that poses a health risk.

Date 1 Jul 2014

56-day deadline 26 Aug 2014 est.

Responses identified 4 of 4

Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

A lack of regulation prevented intervention when retailers sold toxic gases to a known addict, highlighting a gap in the law and enforcement powers that poses a health risk.

View full coroner's concerns

During the course of the inquest;, it transpired that cans of the aforementioned gases were being sold to the deceased by local retailers who were fully aware of her addition/problems_ Whilst morally reprehensible, there was no law to prevent them from selling large amounts of the toxiclpotentially fatal gases to the deceased. Lack of regulation 3_ No powers afforded to Trading Standards to take actionlprosecute. Risk to health_

Responses

4 respondents

Trading Standards Institute

10 Jul 2014 PDF

Noted

The Trading Standards Institute states that it is a professional body without powers to get involved and that the matter is for local authority trading standards departments. It highlights a workforce survey demonstrating severe cuts to trading standards services. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mrs Hashmi Sindy Louise Woodhall, deceased DOB 13.8.1969, DOD 24.10.2013 Thank you for your letter of July 2014 following the conclusion of the inquest re Sindy Woodhall: would like to take this opportunity to advise you that the Trading Standards Institute is a private company and professional body for trading standards officers, as such this matter is not something that we are able to get involved with as we have no powers, this would be a matter for trading standards departments that are run by local authorities On a separate matter you may be interested to hear that TSI has recently conducted a workforce survey of trading standards services in England and Wales: This demonstrates the severe and deep cuts to trading standards services which in turn has led to reduction in activity and prioritisation. A copy of the survey can be viewed at WW tradingstandardsgov_uk/policyNorkforceSurvey2014.cfm: am sorry that our organisation is not able to be of any further assistance in this matter

Oldham Council Local Authority / Fire Service

21 Jul 2014 PDF

Action Planned

Oldham Council will ensure the trader concerned is visited and spoken to by officers on the safety/health implications and moral obligations related to addictions, and about sales to minors of age-restricted products. (AI summary)

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Dear Madam Sindy Louise Woodhall, deceased dob 13.8.69 write further to your letter of July 2014 enclosing copy of your Regulation 28 notice in relation to the above deceased person: The Council was sorry to note the death of Sindy under such circumstances As outlined in your notice your concerns Were around the lack of regulation or powers afforded to Trading Standards to take any action against a retailer who, in full knowledge of the addition in this matter;, still sold products to her: Whilst it is an offence t0 sell to a child there are no other powers that we have to take any action: There is also no licensing regime in place to register or licence traders of such products, other than alcohol, and therefore we do not know who sells it shall certainly ensure that the trader concerned is visited and spoken to by my Officers on the safetylhealth implications and the moral obligations in relation to those who suffer from addictions as well as a reminder about sales to minors of age restricted products in general. trust the letter you have written to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills may prompt them to consider legislating in this area

UK Health Security Agency Other

5 Aug 2014 PDF

Action Taken

Public Health England has been working with the Department of Health to restrict access to volatile substances, has refined information collected on VSA as part of the National Treatment Monitoring System, and is looking to improve national collection of drug-related mortality data. (AI summary)

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Dear Mrs Hashmi Sindy Louise Woodhall Deceased Date of Birth 13.08.1969 Date of Death 23.10.2013 Thank you for sending your regulation 28 notice following the inquest into the sad death of Ms Woodhall_ We share your concern about abuse of volatile substances (VSA) such as butane and propane and have been working with the Department of Health to support their efforts to restrict inappropriate access to these products. A large number of retailers already restrict access to butane lighter refills and some have committed to restricting the sale of multiple canisters in one transaction The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) was asked by the public health minister last year to urge its members to remove accessible displays and restrict sales to one can per customer_ ACS reassured the minister that its members already had policies in place to restrict access to butane understand that Oldham's new service specification for provision of specialist treatment of substance misuse makes clear that the new service should cover all substances, including_ volatile ones The local Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Forum, chaired by the local authority$ Director of Public Health and attended by the Head of Trading Standards/Licensing, is looking at closer working with retailers on this matter and will consider the issue at its next meeting: We have recently refined the information we collect on VSA as part of the National Treatment Monitoring System in line with recommendations from Re-Solv; the national charity dedicated to the prevention of VSA, in part to add propane to the data collected routinely on people presenting with butane abuse. Way We Drug

Public Health England We are also looking to improve the national collection of drug-related (including VSA) mortality data from coroners so that action can be taken at a national and local level_ hope this is helpful but please do contact me should you wish to discuss the matter further. Best wishes Yojurrs sincerrelv Duncan Selbie Chief Executive National Director of Health Protection and Medical Director Director of Drugs and Alcohol

Department of Health Central Government

PDF

Noted

The Department of Health acknowledges the concerns and refers to the response from Public Health England, expressing full support for their views and advice. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mrs Hashmi Sindy Louise Woodhall Deceased Date of Birth 13.08.1969 Date of Death 23.10.2013 Thank you for sending your regulation 28 notice following the inquest into the sad death of Ms Woodhall: We share your concern about abuse of volatile substances (VSA) such &s butane and propane and have been working with the Department 0f Health to support their efforts to restrict inappropriate access to these products Alarge number of retailers already restrict access to butane iighter refills and some have committed to restricting the sale of muitiple canisters in one transaction The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) was asked by the public health minister last year to urge its members to remove accessible displays and restrict sales to one can per customer ACS reassured the minister that its members aiready had policies in place to restrict access to butane understand that Oldham's new service specification for provision of specialist treatment of substance misuse makes clear that the new service should cover ali substances, including volatile ones_ The local Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Forum, chaired by the Iocal authoritys Director 0f Public Health and attended by the Head of Trading Standards/Licensing; is looking at closer working with retailers on this matter and will consider the issue at its next meeting; We have recently refined the Information we collect on VSA as part of the National Treatment Monitoring System in with recommendations from Re-Solv, the national charity dedicated to the prevention of VSA, in part to add propane t0 the data collected routinely on people presenting with butane abuse, Way We Drug line

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On the 29th October 2013 commenced an investigation into the death of Sindy Louise Woodhall.

Circumstances of the death

deceased had long standing addictions to alcohol and Butane and Propane and was known to misuse latter gases on an extremely regular basis On the 24"h October 2013,the deceased was found in a collapsed state, in the street near to her home, by a passer-by_ Ms Woodhall was taken to hospital but subsequently died. Post mortem examination and toxicology confirmed the medical cause of death to be 1a) Butane and Propane Inhalation Toxicity-

Similar PFD reports

Shared signals

Report details

Reference: 2014-0292
Date of report: 1 July 2014
Coroner: Lisa Hashmi
Coroner area: Manchester (North)

Responses identified

Responses identified 4 of 4

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 26 Aug 2014 (estimated).

Sent to

Department for Business Innovation and Skills

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

Public Health England

Trading Standards Institute

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.