Tragedy sparks call for trust to improve mental health service
AVALLEY mental health patient has called for urgent improvements at the trust which provides critical services in Lancashire - following the death of a woman whose treatment a coroner criticised.
Blackburn’s Katie Foulds, who struggled with her mental health for a number of years, died after entering the sea at Lytham in February following a series of failings by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation
Trust (LSCFT).
The trust provides mental health services and in 22-year-old Katie’s case, Area Coroner Richard Taylor said the treatment was “sporadic, ill-defined poorly-communicated and shared, not documented and over-influenced by unexplored private counselling”.
During an inquest into Katie’s death held on November 4, forensic clinical psychologist Dr Adrian West was critical of the mental health assessment which led to her being diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder. He strongly disagreed with the diagnosis and instead believed she was suffering from psychosis which could have responded to anti-psychotic medication.
James Briggs, from LSCFT, carried out a review of Katie’s care after her death and identified a number of “limitations” including a lack of formal communication between Katie’s private counsellor and the NHS, incomplete documentation when decisions were made, a lack of clinical discussion and inaccurate records.
LSCFT has since told us ‘actions have been taken’ between its teams and work with outside agencies involved in providing care for trust patients.
In light of the inquest’s findings a number of patients currently receiving mental health treatment from LSCFT, have spoken to our sister website Lancs Live about what they say are “systemic and cultural failings” within the trust.
Social worker Rachel, from Rossendale, who works in children’s services, has submitted a formal complaint to LSCFT as a result of the mental health treatment she has received.
The 38-year-old believes
patients are “patronised” and not deemed to be credible” and there is “a heck of a lot” which needs to be improved at LSCFT.
“Risks aren’t properly managed, the quality of assessment is poor and you’re seen as someone who is ‘unwell’ so it’s like you don’t have a voice,” Rachel - not her real name - said.
“Practitioners are defensive and prejudiced and people are going to keep dying if things don’t improve. You have to jump through so many hoops to get support. There are failings which are systemic and that culture needs to change. It’s all well and good someone encouraging people to ‘seek help’ but what good is that if the help you get isn’t good enough?
“I wanted to speak about my experiences because this can’t carry on. Families will continue to lose loved ones and I just want to try and make a difference.”
Rossendale, Chorley and Blackpool all had “significantly higher than average” rates of suicide and
between 2018 and 2020 there were 421 suicides in Lancashire, mostly men.
In June 2019, LSCFT was issued with a warning notice by the Care Quality Commission regarding its mental health crisis services. A subsequent inspection in 2020 found that although LSCFT had met the requirements of the warning notice, and the mental health decision units had all been closed, the trust’s rating remained as inadequate and it has not been inspected since.
A spokesperson for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said: “Following Katie’s tragic death, our internal investigation highlighted the importance of communication between teams and with outside agencies involved in her care, and actions have been taken to ensure this is strengthened.
“We are aware of two additional service users’ concerns, and we are looking into them as a matter of urgency with our clinical teams and with our Patient Advice & Liaison Teams.”