Alex was let down by mental health trust, say parents
24-YEAR-OLD DIED BY SUICIDE AFTER WALKING OUT OF UNIT
THE parents of a young man who killed himself are calling for lessons to be learned after a coroner found that gross failings by a mental health trust contributed to his death.
Alex Turner, 24, from Chorley, went missing from the Eagleton Ward of Salford Royal Hospital’s Meadowbrook Unit, on December 5, 2019. His body was found near Eccles station the next morning.
The Bolton inquest was told Alex had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder shortly after being admitted to North Manchester General Hospital’s Safire unit on November 24 following multiple suicide attempts.
The warehouse worker had been a cannabis and cocaine user over a period of five years.
Alex had repeatedly told staff that he would kill himself, but assistant coroner Catherine Cundy heard that Alex was discharged without his family being told on November 28.
Within hours, Alex was admitted to the Eagleton Ward after council staff called an ambulance.
Greater Manchester Mental
Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) admitted a series of failings.
During his time on Eagleton Ward, Alex reported suicidal thoughts and described hearing voices in his head. During an appointment with a student nurse on December 5, Alex shouted that the devil was telling him to kill himself.
At around 8.30pm, Alex asked a member of nursing staff if he could leave the ward. The nurse – unaware of Alex’s suicidal ideations – allowed him to do so without an escort.
He was found dead the following morning.
Ms Cundy concluded: “His suicide was contributed to by neglect.”
Alex’s mother, Andrea Turner, said: “Our son couldn’t have been more vocal about being suicidal and needing help ... he still lost his life.
“As parents, we had no training in how to keep Alex safe. All we could do was trust that the professionals knew what they were doing. We still can’t get our heads around how badly those same professionals let him down.”
Alex’s father, Matthew, said: “He deserved a chance at life. He just needed GMMH to take him seriously and keep him safe.”