A health and social care system is supposed to protect people, especially the most vulnerable. It should be the final line of defence when someone’s life, health, or safety is at risk. But when multiple institutions neglect their duties, ignore clear warning signs, and push responsibility from one agency to another, we are no longer dealing with a simple mistake.
We are witnessing a systemic failure.
A situation where the entire structure responsible for safeguarding a human being collapses—and the person is left alone in danger.
This article explains what systemic failure is, how it manifests in real life, and why the story of Shannon Keeley Crane is one of the clearest examples of this breakdown.
What Is Systemic Failure?
In the United Kingdom, the term systemic failure is used by:
- NHS England
- Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)
Systemic failure occurs when:
- multiple agencies simultaneously fail,
- serious harm is foreseeable and preventable,
- no institution takes responsibility for coordination,
- safeguarding structures break down,
- statutory duties are ignored,
- critical intervention never arrives.
It is not the failure of one individual or one organisation.
It is the collapse of the entire system around a vulnerable person.
How Systemic Failure Looks in Practice
In real life, systemic failure is not dramatic or sudden.
It is slow, silent and deadly.
It starts with one missed appointment.
One ignored warning.
One referral that goes nowhere.
Then, over months and years:
- NHS services point to addiction services,
- addiction services point back to the NHS,
- the Council refers the matter to health providers,
- health providers refer it to social care,
- the Integrated Care Board insists the provider is performing well,
- oversight bodies say the issue is “local”,
- and nobody takes responsibility.
The vulnerable person is left trapped in an administrative maze, while their health deteriorates.
This is not a coincidence.
It is what happens when a system collapses structurally.
Shannon’s Story – A Real Case of Systemic Failure
You can read the full account here:
➩ https://shannonproject.uk/go/about
Shannon Keeley Crane has faced severe health challenges for many years, including addiction, chronic illness, repeated hospitalisations, and periods of life-threatening deterioration. Despite this, she has never received coordinated treatment, proper rehabilitation, or consistent safeguarding support.
The institutions responsible for protecting her:
- failed to provide essential medical care,
- failed to offer addiction treatment and rehabilitation,
- failed to conduct proper assessments,
- failed to intervene even when her condition became critical,
- failed to act despite numerous alerts and evidence.
In November 2024, a hospital doctor told Shannon that if help had been delayed by just two more days, she could have died from pneumonia.
This was not an accident.
It was the result of years of multi-agency neglect.
Shannon’s story is not only a personal tragedy—it is a clear illustration of systemic failure in the health and social care system in Doncaster.
Why Systemic Failure Matters
Because it is not just about one person.
Systemic failure shows that the structures meant to protect people are not functioning.
It exposes institutional vulnerabilities, gaps in public administration, and failures in accountability.
If the system fails one vulnerable person today,
it may fail someone else tomorrow.
Shannon’s case demonstrates the human cost of systemic weakness,
and why such failures can no longer be ignored.
What Happens Next?
The goal of ShannonProject.uk is to:
- document the failings of institutions,
- raise public awareness,
- provide evidence of systemic neglect,
- push for accountability at local and national levels,
- support other individuals facing similar situations.
Systemic failure is not just a concept.
It is a call for change.
Learn more about Shannon’s story:
➩ https://shannonproject.uk/go/about