Helpline missed 5 calls in half an hour from tragic personal trainer
OVER 5,000 UK bank branches have shut since 2015, leaving many communities without vital banking and cash services. Among those affected are residents of the Norfolk village of Great Massingham.
When it was announced that all three banks in the nearby small town of Fakenham were to disappear in 2023, many feared they would be left “stranded”. The nearest bank is now 13 miles away in King’s Lynn and a single hourly bus journey is the only means of transport for some.
But essential banking services provided by the Post Office have provided a lifeline for residents and businesses in the village.
Postmaster Mark Eldridge says, “So many people still use cash, and not everyone is tech savvy or wants to use banking apps. They like coming into the Post Office to pay cash in or take it out.
“This is more than just a Post Office. It’s a community hub.
We’ve become an increasingly vital support for residents and local businesses, giving them crucial banking services on their doorstep.”
With more than 11,500 branches, Post Office is the biggest retail network in the UK, and 99.7% of the population is located within three miles of a Post Office branch.
Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office. You can also take out the exact amount of cash you need – right down to the penny. And with branches often open much longer than bank branches, the service is available when customers need it most.
of the population live within three miles of a Post Office branches are open seven days a week
A PERSONAL trainer with a history of mental health problems took her own life following a series of unanswered calls to a helpline, an inquest heard.
Madeline Hughes, 34, suffered catastrophic fatal injuries after deliberately walking into the path of a train.
Ms Hughes was at home in south Manchester when she made five calls to the Laureate House ‘home-based treatment team’ – on the grounds of Wythenshawe Hospital, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust – just before midnight on April 21.
None of the calls were picked up, an inquest into Ms Hughes’ death was told. She became ‘agitated,’ before her mother called 999 when her daughter ‘sprinted’ out of the house.
As a search began, Ms Hughes managed to climb onto a railway line off a motorway, before crouching in front of a speeding train. She died at the scene.
An inquest at Manchester Coroners Court heard Ms Hughes had struggled with mental health problems from 2009 and that her condition worsened during the pandemic. She sought help privately from The Priory and via her GP, who referred her to Greater
Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the court was told.
She was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder and ADHD. Ms Hughes was prescribed an antipsychotic medication for bipolar disorder. She was also prescribed, but was wary of taking and becoming addicted to, anti-depressant diazepam. The inquest heard Ms Hughes had pressed for medication for her ADHD, but was told that had to wait until her bipolar disorder was under control.
Ms Hughes made her calls to the ‘home-based treatment team’ (HBMHT) at 11.14pm, 11.16pm, 11.17pm, 11.26pm and 11.43pm, but an investigation failed to establish why the lone night-shift worker on duty that night didn’t answer the calls.
The inquest heard there were signal blackspots at Wythenshawe Hospital. She was hit by the train at around midnight.
An occupational therapist at HBMHT, Amy Murphy, visited Ms Hughes at her home during he afternoon of April 21 – just hours before her death – to ‘offer emotional support and assistance.’
Ms Murphy told the inquest Ms Hughes was ‘distressed and agitated’ and her condition ‘was taking a huge emotional toll.’ She said she encouraged her to take her prescribed diazepam and by the end of the visit her signs of stress ‘reduced’ and she was able to engage in conversation.
Ms Murphy said she asked Ms Hughes ‘to take a little bit of a break’ from seeing her personal training clients and to ‘concentrate on her recovery.’ The witness said that although Ms Hughes was considered to be at ‘high risk’ of selfharm, she didn’t believe the risk was ‘imminent’ and that the risk could be managed. The plan was to visit her daily rather than every two days as had been the case.
Addressing Ms Hughes’ family, she said: “I want you to know we will never forget her. She will always be in our thoughts.”
A voicemail has now been added to the HBMHT helpline which urged people ring a 24-hour crisis line or to attend A&E if that wasn’t answered.
Ms Hughes’ mother Rhona paid tribute to her ‘beautiful girl’ in court. She thanked the health professionals in court for trying to help her daughter and she said she hoped the changes ‘will make a difference to other families.’
Assistant coroner Paul Appleton found there were ‘missed opportunities’ in Ms Hughes’ care, but he said there was no evidence they contributed to her death. Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Appleton found Ms Hughes intended to take her own life.
The scheme will be extended to may 2026 - but there were questions raised about safety at a council meeting. Coun Barbara Bentham said there have been worries from fire and rescue services about the batteries used to power scooters.
Council officer Lee evans said there haven’t been any incidents involving batteries, which are removed by Lime when in need of recharging and have to be up to standard.