Bereaved partner: I will fight on for at-risk patients
A woman whose partner killed himself after being turned away by the NHS vowed to fight on for better mental health services yesterday.
Karen McKeown’s partner, Luke Henderson, took his own life just days after Christmas last year, despite contacting medical staff 11 times in the week before his death asking for help.
The 32-year-old mum from Motherwell has criticised a review of Luke’s care, conducted by NHS Lanarkshire, which she says has failed to answer her questions.
NHS Lanarkshire partially upheld Karen’s complaint, but said they provided all the support available at the time Luke visited them for help.
Despite phoning NHS 24, going to A&E, contacting GPs and other community services on eight occasions between December 22 and 28, the couple were either turned away, referred elsewhere or told Luke showed no signs of mental health issues.
On December 29, Karen found Luke’s body in their home.
Karen said: “NHS Lanarkshire have just shirked their responsibility here.
“They clearly think they have done nothing wrong, and that everything was done according to their procedures.
“If that is the case, their procedures are wrong.
“I’m disappointed that they have been unable to answer many of the questions I have asked, and will be taking this further.”
Today she and Gillian Murray, whose uncle, David Ramsay, took his own life after being turned away by the NHS, will launch a petition calling for a Fatal Accident Inquiry to be conducted into suicides where the deceased has had contact with NHS mental health services before their deaths.
Paula Macleod, general manager for Lanarkshire’s mental health and learning disability services, said senior staff would be meeting Karen.