Patient ‘threatened’ by staff, Essex mental health investigation finds

A woman who killed herself while in a mental health ward had been threatened and harassed by staff, her family told a public inquest.

Iris Scott, 73, was a patient at the Crystal Center in Chelmsford, run by mental health service provider Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), when she died there in her bathroom on March 1, 2014.

His children gave evidence to the Lampard inquiry, which is examining more than 2,000 deaths in NHS-run hospital care units in Essex between 2000 and 2023.

They told the inquest they had “serious safety concerns” about his treatment. EPUT said it would “build on improvements already made over the past 24 years”.

On one occasion, their mother told them how a staff member threatened to leave the lights on to keep her from sleeping if she didn’t stop complaining and another deliberately blocked her path through the corridors.

Ms Scott initially agreed to a three-week “quick fix” hospital stay in August 2013 after suffering from “unmanageable anxiety”, her children said.

However, his condition worsened during the six months he spent on the ward and his family told the inquest of what they considered to be “failings” regarding his care plan, treatment by staff, the ward and risk management, which they believe contributed to his death.

His son, Craig Scott, said there had been “no blame”.

Her daughter, Dawn Johnson, said that when she raised concerns that her mother had expressed a desire to end her life in November 2013, the department director was dismissive.

“She just said I was a paranoid girl and nothing would happen in that room,” Ms Johnson told the inquest, held at Arundel House in London.

“She went so far as to say that if you don’t calm down, you’ll end up in the department as well,” added Rachel Troup, attorney leading the investigation.

Due to ongoing problems, Ms. Johnson and her mother began keeping a diary of incidents and interactions with staff, which she said showed her mother’s fear.

On Jan. 14, 2014, Ms. Scott attempted suicide, leaving her with “significant” bruising around her face, her children said.

Her family was not informed and was told she had suffered a fall when they asked staff about her injuries.

Ms Johnson said her mother confided she had attempted suicide, but this was dismissed by staff who said Ms Scott was “attention-seeking”.

They insisted she had fallen, but said they were making more observations, according to the investigation.

Two days later, Ms. Johnson’s children found her installing a ligature in her bedroom in the same manner as she had reported.

Although she was placed under a higher level of observation and searched her room, her daughter found items for a ligature in her wardrobe, which she said led to more concerns from the family about the competence of the staff.

In response to the suicide attempt, Ms. Scott reported that the department director told her that she had “crossed the line” and had “gone too far,” according to her family.

Ms Johnson said her mother was “blackmailed” by staff who threatened to “reveal something about her” if she did not change her story about the events of January 14.

“Mom said she felt pressure to change her story,” Ms. Johnson said.

“She was scared.”

Ms Scott’s observation level was reduced in late February and she died on March 1 after using a ligature in her bathroom on the unit.

When asked what she thought should have been done differently regarding her mother’s care, Ms. Johnson said “everything.”

Ms Scott’s family added that they hoped any recommendations for change would be carefully vetted to ensure they were followed.

“If they [ligature points] “The people who died the following year might still be here,” Ms. Johnson said.

“Mental health has become a priority since Mum’s death, but is there a real desire to take these and other recommendations more seriously?” Iris’ son, Craig Scott, added.

Paul Scott, the trust’s chief executive for mental health, said: “My thoughts are with Iris’s family and loved ones and I send my condolences both personally and on behalf of the trust.

“As the investigation progresses, many stories of people who have been much loved and missed over the past 24 years will be released and I want to say how sorry I am for their loss.

“All of us in healthcare have a responsibility to work together to improve care and treatment for all and build on the improvements already made over the past 24 years. »

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