Sick woman 'hounded to work by government' dies
A British woman who was hounded by the government to find work while lying in a coma has died, according to reports.
Sheila Holt, from the north of England, suffered a brain injury as a result of a heart attack while a patient in a psychiatric unit.
She has been in a coma since falling ill in December of last year.
The 48-year-old was diagnosed with severe bipolar depression stemming from childhood trauma and had not worked for 27 years due to her condition.
According to UK media reports, she was admitted to the unit after being pressured into the government’s controversial ‘Work Programme’, which helps people with disabilities back into employment.
Ms Holt’s family told the Metro she had her ‘life stolen’ by cost-cutting measures introduced by the British government.
Despite her illness, private health firm Atos placed Ms Holt in the government programme of disability benefit claimants after assessing her and deciding that she was fit to work.
She struggled with the programme and was terrified her benefits would be cut.
Her anxiety worsened and according to her sister Linda, she ‘just couldn’t cope’.
"Those courses were the catalyst that tipped Sheila over the edge,” she said.
Ms Holt’s father Ken took her to emergency services and she was sent to the psychiatric unit.
The 75-year-old former mill worker said his daughter should never have been on the Work Programme.
“She spent her life in and out of psychiatric hospitals and tried to commit suicide several times,” he told the Mirror.
“She was terrified of people.”
Soon after being sectioned, Ms Holt suffered a massive heart attack and slipped into a coma.
While lying unconscious in hospital, she was reportedly sent letters enquiring about her fitness and suitability for employment.
Her story made national headlines and an unreserved apology was made by a government minister.
Her MP, Simon Danczuk, said Sheila’s case was one of the most distressing he has come across.
“My heart goes out to Sheila’s family,” he told the Mirror.
“This should never have happened and it shows why we shouldn’t rush headlong into bad, half-baked policy.
“The welfare system is there to support the most vulnerable, not kill them.”
After Sheila’s funeral this week, she will be laid to rest in North Wales with her mother who passed away in 2011.
Her father said she will finally be at peace.
“There are no more bipolar episodes for her to suffer any more,” he said.
“But it’s not just her - there are hundreds like her.
“People are dying because they are being hounded.
“It’s got to stop here.”
