Mental health patient died ‘after taking heroin’
AN investigation has been launched after a man died after it is believed he took drugs while being treated in a mental health unit.
Tributes have been paid to David Lowe, 31, from Rochdale by his devastated family after his death on Sunday.
Police had initially linked Mr Lowe’s death to a major investigation into fears of a potent batch of MDMA, later identified by tests as a new form of Spice.
However police said Mr Lowe is not believed to have taken this drug and his death is being treated as a separate investigation.
The cause of Mr Lowe’s death is unclear as toxicology reports have not yet been completed, but his family have been told he had taken heroin.
It is thought he took the drug while in hospital, and an investigation into how he came to have the drugs has been launched.
Mr Lowe was being treated in the Prospect Place unit at Birch Hill Hospital, operated by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.
The unit provides low secure care for patients, who are allowed to leave with supervision, with the ultimate aim of helping them to live back in the community.
Mr Lowe’s family said he had been there a number of years after suffering from mental health problems.
His sister Rebecca has now made a desperate plea to others to think before they take drugs.
She said: “It’s so out of character, he never touched drugs.
“These drugs they are taking are dangerous, people should know the warning signs.
“But with David being vulnerable he wouldn’t have really thought about it. It’s come as a complete shock.
Rebecca, 30, says she was very close to her brother, a former pupil at Springhill High School.
She and her family regularly visited him, and they said he remained in good spirits prior to his death.
Paying tribute to her brother, Rebecca, from Smallbridge says that David had a passion for rap music.
She said: “He loved it, he used to listen to it all the time and put videos of himself rapping on Facebook.
“He was loved by lots of people, he was always making people smile.
“He was happy and bubbly, a genuine guy with a heart of gold.”
Dr Henry Ticehurst, medical director at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust confirmed a patient at a low secure unit died.
He said: “We can confirm that an inpatient at one of our low secure units reported feeling unwell on Sunday 25 June due to taking an illicit substance. Staff acted appropriately and immediately contacted the emergency services.
“The circumstances surrounding how the patient came to have an illicit substance in their possession are currently under investigation by both the Trust and the police. Until the investigations have concluded, it would be inappropriate to speculate.
“The aim of the care we provide is to enable patients to be safely and appropriately discharged back into the local community. Part of this process involves allowing patients leave from the unit.
“This may be supervised or unsupervised depending on the individual needs of the patient and a full clinical and risk assessment is always undertaken before any patient is allowed leave.
“We have robust policy and procedures in place regarding undertaking searches on patients, which are in line with the national Mental Health Act code of practice.”
Dr Ticehurst added: “We are in contact with the patient’s family and I would like to reiterate my deepest and most sincere condolences for their loss.
“The safety of our patients is our number one priority.
“We have a number of robust policies and procedures in place to protect our inpatients and our staff are highly trained and experienced.
“We have launched an immediate and thorough investigation to enable us to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident and we are working closely with Greater Manchester Police.”