Who was Danny Tozer?

Danny was a much loved son, brother, nephew, family member and friend. He was also a fit and healthy young man, diagnosed with autism, epilepsy and learning disabilities. Danny was a people person who enjoyed travel, playing his piano, and outdoors activities such as running, walking, cycling and horse riding as well as visiting the seaside, pubs and cafes with friends and family.

Danny was diagnosed with autism, epilepsy and learning disabilities. He was a resident of a supported living home operated by Mencap at Maple Avenue in Bishopthorpe, York for the last two years of his life.

Danny was recognised as not having the capacity to make decisions and required 24-hour help and support. He was unable to speak and could not leave the residence unaccompanied.

What happened to Danny?

In September 2015 Danny was found unresponsive in his room, and was taken to hospital where he later died. The consultants at the hospital concluded that he had a cardiac arrest, as a result of an epileptic seizure. Danny was just 36.

Who was responsible for the ‘care’ that Danny received?

Danny’s care was commissioned by the City of York Council, with partial continuing healthcare funding.

Danny’s family understood that he was subject to frequent checks, due to the risks associated with his epilepsy. However, he was reportedly left for 30 minutes without being observed on the morning he was found, during which time he became unresponsive.

Danny’s family had raised concerns about the support he was receiving and his safety during the time he spent in Mencap ‘care’. These were raised directly with Mencap staff, and staff from City of York Council.

What happened immediately after Danny died?

The decision was made that Danny’s organs would be donated and they have given a new chance at life to five people. As reported in the York Press:

A 13-year-old girl was able to receive a heart transplant, a man in his 30s received a kidney transplant, a woman in her 20s with severe diabetes received a pancreas and kidney transplant, a woman received a liver transplant and an older man with a family was given a lung transplant.

There was no internal investigation from Mencap conducted. There was no Safeguarding Adult Review instigated by the City of York Safeguarding Adults Board.

A CQC inspection of the domiciliary care services provided in York by Mencap, conducted a couple of months after Danny died, found that it required improvement. It found that:

• the service was not always safe
• the service was not always effective
• the service was not always caring
• the service was not always responsive
• the service was not always well-led.

What do Danny’s family hope will come from the inquest?

Danny’s family hope that the inquest will examine how, and under what circumstances Danny died. They also hope it will consider the responses of all agencies to concerns they had raised over the two years before Danny’s death, about his support and safety.

Where and when is the inquest?

Danny’s inquest starts on Tuesday 17 April 2018 and is expected to last up to two weeks. It is taking place at the Innovation Centre, York which is based within the Science Park next to the University of York campus. If you are coming along you can find directions here. We will be live tweeting what is said in court on @TozerInquest.

I’m a journalist, do you have a photo I can use?

Sure. Take your pick of the ones below but please credit them to The Tozer Family and please let us know if you use them: