There continues to be considerable concerns that the health sector is failing patients with mental health problems .The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found in 2018 that vulnerable patients were being badly let down by the NHS and the number of recent reports regarding the quality of care in the mental health sector suggests that the health sector is continuing to fall short in its treatment of the most vulnerable patients with mental health conditions ,causing them and their families needless suffering and distress.
The Guardian reported this month that neglect contributed to the death of a patient at the Priory Hospital in Woodbourne Birmingham. Matthew Caseby, who was 23, had been sectioned as an NHS patient under the Mental Health Act after his mental health deteriorated during lockdown and he was found running along a railway line, telling doctors he was hearing voices. He had been an inpatient for 3 days when he ran away from the hospital and was killed by a train. A two-week inquest at Birmingham coroner’s court concluded that he should not have been left unattended and that staff had ‘missed an opportunity’ to improve the area’s security after previous patients had absconded. Poor record-keeping, inadequate risk assessments and the absence of a policy on observation were also highlighted.
An enquiry is currently ongoing into deaths of those the care of Essex mental health services, over a 21-year period, between January 2000 and December 2020The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, which operated the unit, has already been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and admitted failings in the deaths of 11 patients in the care of one of its predecessor NHS trusts. It was fined £1.5m in June last year over the deaths, which happened between 2004 and 2015.The public enquiry has learned of 1500 deaths during the period under investigation including that of Richard Wade who sadly took his life at The Linden Centre in Chelmsford in May 2015 having been left with scissors, razors, shoelaces, electrical cords and a dressing gown cord, in a room where someone else had taken their own life there just months beforehand.
The enquiry began taking evidence in December 2021 and the Chairwoman, Dr Geraldine Strathdee has appealed for more people to come forward. However, there are concerns that the inquiry will not be far reaching enough, and it does not cover community deaths.
Whilst the outcome is awaited we must hope that it leads to the changes that the number of ongoing incidences of vulnerable patient failings suggest are urgently required.
Moosa-Duke Solicitors are experiences clinical negligence solicitors with expertise in investigating failing in mental health care cases. If you believe that you or a family member may be a victim of medical negligence, please call us for a no obligation discussion on 0116 254 7456 or email us at enquiries@moosaduke.com
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59964353
https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/news-and-blog/news/nhs-failing-patients-mental-health-problems
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-60865519
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/inquiry-mental-health-deaths-essex-b2061457.html