Family feel ‘failed’ by the NHS over mum’s death
AHEARTBROKEN family say they feel “failed” by the NHS after a mum was found hanged in hospital 18 months after concerns were raised about the safety of its mental health unit.
Deirdre Harvey, from Tonyrefail, was found dead in a bathroom at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, near Llantrisant, on April 10, 2017.
The mum-of-one, 52, had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been detained under the Mental Health Act on February 21, 2017, several weeks before her death.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) had raised concerns about the mental health unit with Cwm Taf University Health Board , which runs the hospital, in October 2015.
They were concerned about things in the unit that could be used to hang a rope or cord - known as ligature points.
In August 2016, following a further review of ligature points on its mental health wards, the health board identified a fitting - from which Deirdre, known as Dee, would later hang herself - as a potential point which needed removing or redesigning.
But it was found that the unit had made no adaptations before her death and only removed it immediately after the tragedy.
Following a two-week inquest in Pontypridd before Christopher Woolley, Assistant Coroner for South Central Wales, a jury concluded that Dee’s death was an accident contributed to by neglect.
Dee’s daughter Rebecca, 22, said: “Mam was such a loving and caring person who doted on her family.
“We hoped that in hospital she would receive the care and support she needed to get better so she could return to her family; instead she was failed by those who were supposed to help her.
“Our family has been left devastated by mam’s death which we now know was contributed to by neglect and a series of failings.
“It has been very difficult to hear how the hospital knew about the exact ligature point my mum used for seven months before her death and didn’t remove it.
“All we can hope for now is that mam’s death highlights the need for mental health hospitals to treat patients in a safe environment so that hopefully other families won’t have to go through the same experience we have.”
Gus Silverman, an expert public law and human rights lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing the family, said after the inquest: “This is an incredibly tragic case and, more than a year after Dee’s death her family remain understandably devastated by the loss of a much-loved mother, sister, aunt and daughter.
“Dee’s family has had a number of concerns regarding her death. The jury’s conclusion and the previous warnings the health board had received sadly shows that more should have been done to prevent Dee’s death.
“It is matter of particular concern that as long ago as October 2015 Health Inspectorate Wales had raised an ‘immediate concern’ regarding ligature points and audits at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
“It is now imperative that mental health wards throughout the country give urgent consideration to whether they are providing a safe environment for their patients.”
In response, Allison Williams, chief executive at Cwm Taf University Health Board said: “I would like to extend my sincere apologies to the family of Mrs Deirdre Harvey.
“This is an extremely sad case and we deeply regret that there were failings in the care that Mrs Harvey received whilst at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
“A number of changes have already been made to address the improvements identified. Following the conclusion of the inquest, the health board will now consider the Coroner’s findings and continue to implement the changes required to address any failings in service.”