Woman in coma told by council to 'find work'

Sheila Holt was invited to “intensive job-focused activity” even though she has been in a coma for two months.

17:49 28 February 2014

Sheila Holt was told by council to find work despite the fact that she has been in coma for two months. Her case was highlighted by Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk who said that the Department of Work and Pensions was hounding disabled people.

Danczuk said: "Sheila has suffered from severe bipolar [disorder] since childhood and regularly has traumatic experiences.
"She has not been in employment since she was 16 years old.

Sheila, who had her last job 27 years ago, was forced into the Work Programme in December despite the fact that her family argued that she was not well enough to participate. After attending a job-seeking course for eight days, she was hospitalised following a severe manic episode. On December 17 last year, she suffered a heart attack and is still in coma after suffering brain damage.

Holt's father Ken said: “If they had left her alone she would not be in this condition. They were threatening her with cuts and she needs the benefits.

"I just believe it's all wrong, you should be chasing the people who are fit, get them to work, not them that are not fit. It's outrageous."