Outpouring of love for postie following death
A ROYAL Mail worker took her own life after suffering with physical pain and mental health problems, an inquest heard.
Louise Mortlock, 43, had failed to make contact with her daughter and ex-partner throughout the day and was found hanged at her home in Cornwall Road, Stapenhill.
Following her death, Royal Mail vans lined Ashby Road in Burton, forming a guard of honour, as her funeral procession made its way to Bretby Crematorium. Her former colleagues clapped as the procession passed by in a touching tribute to the much-loved worker.
The postwoman died unexpectedly and suddenly on September 6 after dedicating the last five years to delivering the post in Burton and Tutbury.
At the time of her funeral her daughter Nicola Bendall said her mother was her best friend and had a lot of friends at the Royal Mail.
The mum-of two was known to speak her mind, which made her more likeable to those who met her.
An inquest into her death was held by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh last week. It heard that Miss Mortlock had had physical problems for several years, and just days before her death she had been referred to mental health services by her GP.
The inquest was told that on the morning of her death she had had text conversations with family members and there were no concerns, but after they had had no contact for the rest of the day, her daughter and ex-partner went to visit her and let themselves in via the locked door.
They found her in the utility room and there were a number of sealed envelopes addressed to different members of the family, described as “goodbye letters”, the inquest was told.
A search of her home by police found she had some underlying financial problems too. Chris Dolby, a mental health nurse with the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust, told the inquest that despite contacting Miss Mortlock, she had not responded so they were unable to make a diagnosis.
He said: “She wasn’t seen by the trust. She had been referred to the trust by her GP on September 4. The referral was not made as urgent. She told her GP that she was struggling and things were spiralling out of control.
“She did not say she wanted to harm herself but was worried things would deteriorate. She was referred at 5.30pm. At 6.29pm the trust contacts her but she didn’t answer and they sent a text saying they called and gave her numbers to call and that they would try again on Monday but they were notified of her death before they could call again.”
Mr Dolby noted Miss Mortlock had a referral to the trust in 2014 after two suicide attempts but did not attend appointments, despite multiple contact from the trust, he said.
During the inquest her daughter asked: “She had two previous attempts on her life, but her [latest referral] was deemed not urgent. How was that decision made? I am honestly baffled that this was put down as not urgent given her two attempts.”
Mr Dolby said: “I can’t speak for the GP but our team would use their own expertise and professional judgement combined with the tools we have.
“We offered several appointments [in 2014] but she declined so it is difficult to get her history. If we had that information we may have more to go on. We could only go on what we had been told.”
Mr Haigh gave a cause of death as hanging and recorded a verdict of suicide while mentally unwell.
She told her GP that she was struggling and things were spiralling out of control.
Chris Dolby