Junior doctor ‘kills himself at own hospital’

A JUNIOR doctor has been found dead at the hospital where he worked in a suspected suicide.

The medic, in his 30s, was discovered in the doctor’s academy building at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset, at 11pm on Monday.

It is understood he was being supported by Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for personal problems.

Yesterday its chief executive Dr Sam Barrell said: ‘ Obviously, we are asking ourselves if this support was all that we could possibly have given.’

Staff have been sent an email confirming the doctor had ‘apparently taken his own life’ in the hospital, the Health Service Journal website reported last night.

The message from Dr Barrell and his deputy Peter Lewis read: ‘It is our very sad task to tell you the distressing news that one of our junior doctors died at the hospital late last night, apparently taking his own life.

‘We know the whole hospital will be shocked and greatly saddened by this news. The circumstances, as is usual, will be investigated by the police. Please know that we are putting in place longer term support for any colleague who might wish for it. Our door is open to all.’

Police have referred the death to the coroner and are treating it as ‘a sudden death’.

Dr Barrell said yesterday the trust was ‘doing everything we are able to support colleagues who worked with him’.

FOR confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.