Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘He was on bed crying’
Inquiry into man’s death continues at sheriff court
A DUNDEE man who took his own life is said to have lain crying in a mental health centre, a fatal accident inquiry has heard.
Solicitor Danny Devine gave evidence at Dundee Sheriff Court on behalf of the family of Dale Thomson.
Dale, 28, of Charleston, was admitted to Carseview mental health centre on January 8 2015 but discharged himself two days later.
He was readmitted on January 22 and after an appointment at Carseview the following day was again allowed to leave. Dale was found dead by his mum Mandy McLaren, 49, and his twin brother Billy, at home on January 27.
Dr Allan Scott, a consultant psychiatrist was asked by the Crown, as an expert not personally involved in Dale’s treatment, to produce two independent reports detailing his findings into the dad-of-one’s death.
Mr Devine addressed Dr Scott and put to him statements given by Dale’s family, which they felt were not taken into consideration by medical staff who assessed Dale between January 8 and him leaving Carseview for the final time on January 23.
Mr Devine said: “The family have said that when they went to see Dale between January 8 and 10 he was upset. His grandmother went up on January 10 and said Dale ‘seemed agitated and angry’.
“He asked the nurse about when he was to be seen by the doctor. He felt he was essentially left on his own.”
The nurse is then said to have told Dale he would be assessed on the following Monday, which “provoked a negative reaction from Dale”, Mr Devine said.
Dale left Carseview on January 10, but his agitated state continued. He made threats to blow his flat up as well as telling his family he was having suicidal thoughts and delusions that they were outside his house.
He was eventually taken back to Carseview by police on January 22.
Mr Devine continued: “His grandmother went to visit him and said Dale was lying on the bed crying. He felt he was being ignored by the nurses on the ward. Dale then said to his grandmother, ‘Even the nurses dinna think I’m worth saving’.” Dr Scott told the court this reinforced his findings that Dale was “probably suffering from some form of psychotic illness” as well as a depressive illness.
The inquiry continues.