Photo of woman looking through curtains

'Nobody really cared to do anything'

A neighbour says not enough was done to help a 71-year-old woman who starved to death in her Bridgewater community housing unit just weeks after police conducted a welfare check. “She was let down by those who should have stepped in to help her.”

Published: 9 June 2023
  • tas
  • 9 June 2023
  • abc.net.au

Coroner Simon Cooper said police were "wrong" not to call an ambulance when they conducted the welfare check and found the woman "gravely ill — both mentally and physically".

Tasmania Police say there are now specific instructions in the Tasmania Police Manual about alerting mental health services after conducting similar checks.