Missing teenager’s hospital discharge notes inadequate, inquest is told

A PSYCHIATRIST has admitted the information sent to the GP of a teenager when she was discharged from hospital just weeks before her death was inadequate, an inquest heard.

The worried family of 19-year-old Gaia Pope-sutherland took her to Poole Hospital on October 21, 2017, because of concerns about her deteriorating mental health. She was admitted to the hospital for an assessment under the Mental Health Act, which was carried out the following day by registrar Dr Peter Jeffery, a second doctor and another practitioner.

Dorset Coroner’s Court has heard Ms Pope-sutherland did not meet the criteria to be detained under the Mental Health Act and was able to go home with her family.

Just weeks later, the teenager’s naked body was found on cliff tops in undergrowth. She had died from hypothermia.

The teenager, who suffered from severe epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder, had been experiencing “ongoing manic episodes” and was also worried about the imminent release from prison of a man she had accused of raping her.

The inquest heard Ms Pope-sutherland’s discharge summary was written by a nurse and sent to her GP.

The court heard the discharge summary made no reference to referring Ms Pope-sutherland to neurology specialists about her epilepsy, which Dr Jeffery accepted was an omission.

“We’ve since improved that process,” Dr Jeffery said.

He added: “I think the quality of the discharge summary is variable and very much depends on who writes it.”

The inquest continues.