Call for adult care services review following Wheathampstead tragedy

OPPOSITION councillors have demanded a full investigation of the county council’s adult care services department following the double death in Wheathampstead.

The bodies of Stephania Wolf, 67, and her severely disabled daughter Samantha, 29, were discovered at their home in Marford Road on Saturday afternoon. Unconfirmed reports suggest Mrs Wolf may have lain dead for up to six weeks, leaving daughter Samantha unable to fend for herself.

The Liberal Democrat group on the county council has called for an immediate internal review of its social services department.

The Tory-run county council has already said Mrs Wolf, a full time carer for her daughter, had repeatedly refused offers of help.

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, deputy leader of the county council’s Lib Dems, said: “Initial reports suggest that the family was known to Adult Care Services and had an assessment in 1998 and contact in 2006 where they refused further offers of help. The circumstances of these sad deaths need to be independently investigated.”

He added: “Our thoughts go out to family and friends of Stephanie and Samantha, we will continue to press to get a proper review into what happened.”