The mother of a teenage boy with autism who tragically died after falling from a cliff during the COVID-19 lockdown has criticized the government’s response to a report on his death. Patricia Alban’s son, Sammy Alban-Stanley, was 13 years old when he climbed over the railings on a cliff in Ramsgate, Kent, in April 2020. The report, aimed at preventing similar incidents, identified significant failures in Sammy’s care by the Kent County Council and the North East London Foundation Trust. However, the Department for Education attributed the lack of care to the pandemic, claiming that local services were dealing with unfamiliar demands at the time. Patricia, aged 56, believes that the response not only disregards but counters the coroner’s suggestion that families dealing with rare brain diseases should have access to more practical and social support. Sammy, who lived with Prader Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes physical symptoms, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems, was flown to King’s College Hospital in London after the incident but died from his injuries four days later. Patricia claims that both the Kent County Council and the North East London Foundation Trust failed to provide effective ongoing support for Sammy’s behavioral episodes, forcing her to call the police for help. Despite multiple contacts with the police and referrals to the Kent County Council, Patricia did not receive the necessary support to manage Sammy’s episodes at home. During Sammy’s inquest, assistant coroner Catherine Wood highlighted the failures in the support provided by the Kent County Council. In response to the report, Kelly Tolhurst, Minister of State for Schools and Childhood, stated that the situation during the pandemic presented unprecedented challenges that required local authorities, schools, and other services to develop and improve processes. Patricia, however, feels that the blame placed on the pandemic ignores Sammy’s rights, which were clearly violated. She also criticizes the Minister for Children’s Social Care and Special Educational Needs for congratulating the Kent County Council on an outstanding Ofsted Report while it had failed disabled children. Leigh Day solicitor Anna Moore, who represents Patricia, expresses disappointment in the responses to the report, describing them as irrelevant to the issues at hand and failing to address the key concerns facing Sammy. Moore calls for urgent reform to the system to ensure that the responses to Prevention of Future Death reports are adequate and that real change is implemented.
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