Darlington Borough Council

Local government · English unitary authority

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First report 2 Mar 2026•Latest report 2 Mar 2026

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Reports naming this recipient by issue year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Reports
1

Naming this recipient

Published responses
100%

Found for named reports

Concerns addressed
0

Across all linked responses

Stated actions
4

Described in responses

Concerns and recipient responses

Statements from Darlington Borough Council linked to the concerns in each report. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. County Durham and Darlington

    AI-generated summary

    Susan Elizabeth SAMSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Susan Elizabeth SAMSON died on 7 May 2025 after falling down the stairs at her home, following discharge from a six-week rehabilitation placement. Concerns were raised about the delay in arranging installation of a second banister rail and the potential risk to tenants awaiting such installations.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Darlington Borough Council; that does not assign responsibility.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Tenant exposure to potentially avoidable risk of death while awaiting installation of a second banister

    Wider context from the report

    “I heard evidence that: 1. On 18 March 2025 (via an email timed at 16:19) a request was made by staff at Sedgefield Community Hospital to Darlington Borough Council (who were the landlord of the property where the deceased lived) to fit a second banister rail in the deceased’s home. 2. On 10 April 2025 a further request, by an Occupational Therapist working at the Rydal Care Home, was made to Darlington Borough Council to fit a second banister rail in the deceased’s home. 3. An appointment was made to fit the second banister in the deceased’s home on 6 May 2025. 4. For reasons unknown the appointment was changed from 6 May 2025 to 9 May 2025. I am concerned by the length of time between the requests for a second banister and the first appointment arranged to fit a second banister. I am concerned that, if similar circumstances arose today, or in the future, a Darlington Borough Council tenant could be exposed to a potentially avoidable risk of death while awaiting the installation of a second banister. ”
    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Darlington Borough Council; that does not assign responsibility.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Delays in installing requested second banister rails

    Wider context from the report

    “I heard evidence that: 1. On 18 March 2025 (via an email timed at 16:19) a request was made by staff at Sedgefield Community Hospital to Darlington Borough Council (who were the landlord of the property where the deceased lived) to fit a second banister rail in the deceased’s home. 2. On 10 April 2025 a further request, by an Occupational Therapist working at the Rydal Care Home, was made to Darlington Borough Council to fit a second banister rail in the deceased’s home. 3. An appointment was made to fit the second banister in the deceased’s home on 6 May 2025. 4. For reasons unknown the appointment was changed from 6 May 2025 to 9 May 2025. I am concerned by the length of time between the requests for a second banister and the first appointment arranged to fit a second banister. I am concerned that, if similar circumstances arose today, or in the future, a Darlington Borough Council tenant could be exposed to a potentially avoidable risk of death while awaiting the installation of a second banister. ”
    Open source report
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026