Drug death man’s family want answers

GRIEVING family members say they feel doubly let down by the drugs death of a man on a trip out of a mental health unit.

They spoke after a jury criticised moves to protect Glenn Slater, 43, who was detained in the Wells Road Centre but allowed out on strict terms.

He should have been with his father during three hours leave - but was picked up by a man who has never been traced.

Before the trip had officially ended, Mr Slater was seen staggering around the bus station at the Victoria Centre. He had taken drugs similar to ecstasy and died in the QMC.

“They failed my son, they did not look after him properly and the police did not try to find this man who was with him.

“He was referred there because he was ill and vulnerable. He needed looking after,” said Mrs Caroline Fisher, 62. “He wasn’t bad, he wanted to help others. If he had got better, he would have worked to get people off drugs.”

Sister Corrina Slater-gunn, 40, was the last family member to see him alive. She said police appeared to have done little to trace the unknown man’s dark blue car, which might have been an old style Vauxhall Astra.

And his other sister Sarah Wright added: “It is like big brother, there are cameras everywhere. Some of them must have picked up that car.”

In recording a narrative conclusion, the 11-member jury questioned arrangements for his leave. He was in the unit after being accused of attempted robbery.

The jury said it was “reasonable” to allow Mr Slater unescorted leave but that he should have been ordered to remain with his father at all times.

“He should not have been allowed to leave with anyone else without his doctor’s agreement,” added the jury.

An inquiry later found that Mr Slater phoned his father to say a friend would collect him at 11.30am on February 25. Mr Slater was taken on two family visits before he died. Seven wraps of the drug were found on him.

Psychiatrist Yonus Saleem said Mr Slater had been allowed out many times without problems. These trips were regarded as “successful.”

His medical condition was under control but “drug misuse was the main issue.” He assaulted a fellow patient after taking the drug M-cat inside the unit. He had also taken 28 pink seeds and both incidents led to a stop on outside visits.

But later the trips resumed and Dr Saleem said: “These decisions I make, with my medical team to help me, are judgement calls. Whilst often we get it right, sometimes you don’t get it right.”

The inquest heard that forms made it clear that Mr Slater had to be collected and returned by his father. It was not written down that he should have remained with his father during visits.

But nurse James Kapumha said staff understood that was the arrangement.

Assistant Coroner Jane Gillespie asked: “It was implied he should have been with his father?”

Mr Kapumha replied: “That was my assumption.”

A Nottinghamshire Healthcare investigation made 12 recommendations, mainly covering leave as well as the involvement of family and friends.

“This is to include decision making by the whole team involved in a patient’s care, as well as a review immediately prior to leave to ensure that circumstances have not changed.

“Improved training has been offered to staff on dealing with patients who have substance misuse as well as mental health issues.”