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'We warned she would die'

Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 09:23

AN INQUIRY into the care Paignton murder victim Hazel Galloway received in the months leading up to her brutal death has been launched by Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Miss Galloway, 33, was murdered by her partner, 37-year-old Andrew Grundy, on January 22 at their Polsham Park flat.

Grundy, who is now serving a life prison sentence, killed her with a single stab wound in the back and then slept alongside her dead body for two days.

Hazel's brother Terry said the family feared she would die if she did not get help.

He said today: "How many more people have to die before we take responsibility as a society and stand up and be counted?"

Devon Partnership NHS Trust has confirmed it is carrying out an internal review in line with the trust's Serious Untoward Incident policy, which is standard practice when clients in their care die unexpectedly.

A spokeswoman for Devon Partnership NHS Trust, which runs the drug and alcohol team at Shrublands drug treatment centre in Torquay that treated Miss Galloway, said: "We are currently undertaking an internal review into the care, treatment and support Hazel received, as part of our normal trust policy.

"We are working closely with Hazel's family and will share our findings with them once the review is complete.

"We recognise how important it is for the family to know and understand what has happened and for the trust to see if there is any learning it can take forward as a result of the review."

Police revealed after the court case that Miss Galloway, 33, had been a victim of domestic abuse during her two-year relationship with Grundy.

The court also heard of her troubled history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Now her heartbroken family has revealed that they had feared for her life and called for an emergency review into her case before her tragic death.

She was being treated by the Shrublands drug and alcohol team.

Brother Terry said: "We asked Shrublands for help for Hazel and I said that if it were not forthcoming then she would die. I asked for an emergency review of her situation because she looked so ill.

"Had she received the help she needed she might not be dead now. I am heartbroken that I could not do more."

During the murder trial at Exeter Crown Court in September, the court heard that Miss Galloway was an alcoholic and drug addict who was taking prescribed methadone.

After killer Grundy was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison, Miss Galloway's family raised concerns over the care she received while attending the drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.

Brother Terry, who sat with his mother Ann through the four-day trial, said he 'welcomed' the review and thanked the trust for inviting him to contribute.

He hopes the review would be the start of 'real change' for the delivery of drug services in the Bay and would help other families.

He said: "There are questions which need to be answered, specifically in relation to the care Hazel received.

"It was too little too late for Hazel. However, for the many more families in a similar position we hope that this review is the start of real change in the delivery of drug and alcohol services in Torbay and beyond."

He added: "You only have to walk down through Castle Circus to know that there are people out there who need the help now.

"Those people have families who are in a 'living nightmare' and have nowhere to turn.

"The process of getting that help needs to change and I sincerely hope that together we can come to a solution that improves the lives of everyone.

"With regards to this review I hope that it addresses the concerns we are raising as a family and provides meaningful recommendations with measurable outcomes so that people get the help they need when it is required."













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