care in the uk - a disgrace
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Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Tyrone Givans, 32, was found hanged in his cell at the prison on February 26.
The profoundly deaf inmate had handed himself into Islington police on February 5 after causing ABH, but threatened to kill himself if jailed.
However, his comments were recorded as a threat to self-harm, not take his own life, and he was held at Pentonville on remand – without his hearing aids.
The jury delivered a narrative determination at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, which stated: “[Tyrone] had significant and long-standing mental health problems, including depression and anxiety – he also suffered from chronic alcoholism, substance abuse [and] he was profoundly deaf.
“We find, throughout his custody, these issues were insufficiently processed and addressed by the prison and healthcare services.
“We find communication between members of staff inconsistent and unsatisfactory.
“We find that the IT systems used for storing prisoners’ records was inadequate, and best practice and established procedure was not followed,
“Collectively, these factors resulted in Tyrone Givans’ needs not being met and contributed to his death.”
Tyrone Givans’ inquest: Family says ‘failures’ of Pentonville and Care UK ‘contributed’ to death
The profoundly deaf inmate had handed himself into Islington police on February 5 after causing ABH, but threatened to kill himself if jailed.
However, his comments were recorded as a threat to self-harm, not take his own life, and he was held at Pentonville on remand – without his hearing aids.
The jury delivered a narrative determination at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, which stated: “[Tyrone] had significant and long-standing mental health problems, including depression and anxiety – he also suffered from chronic alcoholism, substance abuse [and] he was profoundly deaf.
“We find, throughout his custody, these issues were insufficiently processed and addressed by the prison and healthcare services.
“We find communication between members of staff inconsistent and unsatisfactory.
“We find that the IT systems used for storing prisoners’ records was inadequate, and best practice and established procedure was not followed,
“Collectively, these factors resulted in Tyrone Givans’ needs not being met and contributed to his death.”
Tyrone Givans’ inquest: Family says ‘failures’ of Pentonville and Care UK ‘contributed’ to death
Orang Utan
They cannot crucify you if your hand is in a fist
The care home my mum was in is one of 28 care homes in my city that CQC found either inadequate or requiring improvement.
I have no doubt that my mum's health was worsened by her admittance to her care home and that it hastened her death.
I have no doubt that my mum's health was worsened by her admittance to her care home and that it hastened her death.
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Financial irregularities at home where teenager killed herself, inquest told
Manager says he resigned over ‘reckless’ sacking of therapists at mental health care home
Robert Booth, Wed 23 Jan 2019 18.40
Financial irregularities were uncovered at a care home where a 19-year-old with bipolar disorder killed herself after cost cutting and a change of management which sparked staff fears that someone might die, an inquest has heard.
Sophie Bennett was found dead in her bathroom in May 2016 at the Lancaster Lodge mental health facility in Richmond, south-west London, after upheaval at the managing charity that was led by Elly Jansen, an internationally renowned figure in mental healthcare who also owned the premises.
Vincent Hill, who managed the home between 2011 and January 2016, told an inquest at West London coroner’s court how he resigned in protest at an abrupt decision to sack the residents’ psychological therapists, which he described as “absolutely reckless”.
Art therapists and Hill’s own clinical supervisor were also laid off, and a service evaluated as “good” by the Care Quality Commission declined to “inadequate”. Hill said it became a “bullying, insensitive, neglectful and dictatorial regime”. The changes came after the appearance of a “financial timebomb” in the organisation, said Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, appearing for the Bennett family.
Hill said the sackings were ordered by another manager carrying out Jansen’s orders despite the fact that “the psychologists were critical to the patients’ recovery”.
Hill said a “boot camp” system was introduced for the facility’s eight or nine residents after he was replaced and the level of care declined rapidly. Some parents resorted to staying overnight at the home to keep their children safe, he said, and three residents were taken to hospital “at breaking point”. One parent complained they were “absolutely flabbergasted at the level of neglect”, the inquest heard, and a member of staff sent an email confessing they were “afraid that someone might die by the damage I caused”.
Explaining the context to these changes, Hill said: “The existing CEO began to find what he believed were financial irregularities. Simultaneous to that, those people who were on the board were basically ousted by Elly Jansen, who threatened to pull the plug on all of the homes if they didn’t resign.”
Jansen was not on the board of the charity Richmond Psychosocial Foundation International (RPFI), which ran the home, but John Taylor, the coroner, told the jury she was “more or less top of the pyramid of RPFI”.
Five months before Bennett killed herself, the charity appointed an auditor to examine the performance of its three homes, which was then presented to Jansen.
“Elly was very interested in my view on how close or far away each unit was to be able to maintain itself financially,” Duncan Lawrence, the auditor, told the inquest in a statement.
Jansen’s attitude to the residents was also called into question. Gallagher said that when two of the residents fled the home towards the river, Jansen said in an internal email that “two habitually manipulative girls ran off to the Thames without jumping in, which normally means getting hospitalised by the police, sectioned and returning during the next few days, having terrorised the group and terrified the staff”. She described residents as being engaged in a “campaign”.
Hill said this was “a very unfair way to talk about people with a mental health problem”.
Bennett, from Tooting, was also autistic and had anxiety disorder. She had attempted overdoses and had been discovered in 2015 trying to strangle herself while in hospital. She killed herself around four months after the cost-cutting began and she was told she would have to move to another facility.
Paul Spencer, counsel for RPFI, put it to Hill that “there is a funding crisis and there has been in the social care sector for many years” and that “difficult decisions”, including staff cuts, sometimes had to be made.
Hill accepted that could be the case, but said that was no reason to have an abrupt transition which would affect clinical care of vulnerable people.
The inquest continues.
In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic violence helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org
Financial irregularities at care home where teenager killed herself, inquest told
Manager says he resigned over ‘reckless’ sacking of therapists at mental health care home
Robert Booth, Wed 23 Jan 2019 18.40
Financial irregularities were uncovered at a care home where a 19-year-old with bipolar disorder killed herself after cost cutting and a change of management which sparked staff fears that someone might die, an inquest has heard.
Sophie Bennett was found dead in her bathroom in May 2016 at the Lancaster Lodge mental health facility in Richmond, south-west London, after upheaval at the managing charity that was led by Elly Jansen, an internationally renowned figure in mental healthcare who also owned the premises.
Vincent Hill, who managed the home between 2011 and January 2016, told an inquest at West London coroner’s court how he resigned in protest at an abrupt decision to sack the residents’ psychological therapists, which he described as “absolutely reckless”.
Art therapists and Hill’s own clinical supervisor were also laid off, and a service evaluated as “good” by the Care Quality Commission declined to “inadequate”. Hill said it became a “bullying, insensitive, neglectful and dictatorial regime”. The changes came after the appearance of a “financial timebomb” in the organisation, said Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, appearing for the Bennett family.
Hill said the sackings were ordered by another manager carrying out Jansen’s orders despite the fact that “the psychologists were critical to the patients’ recovery”.
Hill said a “boot camp” system was introduced for the facility’s eight or nine residents after he was replaced and the level of care declined rapidly. Some parents resorted to staying overnight at the home to keep their children safe, he said, and three residents were taken to hospital “at breaking point”. One parent complained they were “absolutely flabbergasted at the level of neglect”, the inquest heard, and a member of staff sent an email confessing they were “afraid that someone might die by the damage I caused”.
Explaining the context to these changes, Hill said: “The existing CEO began to find what he believed were financial irregularities. Simultaneous to that, those people who were on the board were basically ousted by Elly Jansen, who threatened to pull the plug on all of the homes if they didn’t resign.”
Jansen was not on the board of the charity Richmond Psychosocial Foundation International (RPFI), which ran the home, but John Taylor, the coroner, told the jury she was “more or less top of the pyramid of RPFI”.
Five months before Bennett killed herself, the charity appointed an auditor to examine the performance of its three homes, which was then presented to Jansen.
“Elly was very interested in my view on how close or far away each unit was to be able to maintain itself financially,” Duncan Lawrence, the auditor, told the inquest in a statement.
Jansen’s attitude to the residents was also called into question. Gallagher said that when two of the residents fled the home towards the river, Jansen said in an internal email that “two habitually manipulative girls ran off to the Thames without jumping in, which normally means getting hospitalised by the police, sectioned and returning during the next few days, having terrorised the group and terrified the staff”. She described residents as being engaged in a “campaign”.
Hill said this was “a very unfair way to talk about people with a mental health problem”.
Bennett, from Tooting, was also autistic and had anxiety disorder. She had attempted overdoses and had been discovered in 2015 trying to strangle herself while in hospital. She killed herself around four months after the cost-cutting began and she was told she would have to move to another facility.
Paul Spencer, counsel for RPFI, put it to Hill that “there is a funding crisis and there has been in the social care sector for many years” and that “difficult decisions”, including staff cuts, sometimes had to be made.
Hill accepted that could be the case, but said that was no reason to have an abrupt transition which would affect clinical care of vulnerable people.
The inquest continues.
In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic violence helpline is 0808 2000 247. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is 1800 737 732. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org
Financial irregularities at care home where teenager killed herself, inquest told
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Thank you for your posts. Its such grim reading so I can't press 'like' but I appreciate the links.
IT is a disgrace and I'm glad you are posting it.
IT is a disgrace and I'm glad you are posting it.
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Leeds support worker shocked after client's death, inquest jury told
This was my friends brother. She had to crowdfund in order to raise money for legal representation at the inquest as families don’t get legal aid.
This was my friends brother. She had to crowdfund in order to raise money for legal representation at the inquest as families don’t get legal aid.
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Is that a question or a comment?
TruXta
tired
Bit of both I suppose.
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
I don’t know who gets legal aid and in what circumstances
I don’t understand what you’re gettinh at with the comment aspect of your question.
She had to sell raffle tickets in order to afford representation into her dead brothers inquest.
TruXta
tired
All I'm saying is it's not nice but not unique either. Nevermind
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Right you are
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Hospital with 20 staff suspensions used 'shocking' restraint
Poppy Noor, Wed 30 Jan 2019
The mother of a teenage girl with mental health needs has complained about the “shocking” use of restraint at a hospital where 20 members of staff were suspended this month.
Kelly Wilthew says her daughter was lifted from her bed by her wrists and ankles and slammed on the floor while at West Lane hospital in Middlesbrough, leaving her in agonising pain.
“She was screaming saying she was hurt and she was bleeding … I knew it was wrong but we were completely helpless,” she said.
Wilthew says her then 17-year-old daughter, Faith, should not have been restrained on her front due to a hole in her stomach caused by a stoma, the result of an operation to deal with a tumour. Restraining individuals with a stoma can lead to significant and even life-threatening complications.
After a review of restraint techniques, staff were given a beanbag to reduce the impact of restraint on Wilthew’s spine and stomach. This advice was only temporarily followed, say Wilthew and her daughter.
Faith Wilthew, now 18, said the experience left her feeling like she was nothing.
“They kind of treated me like an animal. They would just lift and move me whatever way they wanted to. They definitely did not listen to me,” she said.
Her mother claims inexperienced agency staff were brought in to plug gaps at the Middlesbrough hospital, who were ill-equipped to deal with her daughter’s needs.
On one occasion, Wilthew says an agency staff worker ran out screaming when her daughter was found with a ligature around her neck, despite being in a unit for young people with mental health needs.
On another occasion in December 2017, a letter seen by the Guardian shows that Wilthew complained to managers that staff had left her daughter with a broken arm overnight.
She describes the experience as having been a “living nightmare”.
“I won’t sugarcoat it, it was horrendous. It destroyed the whole family and we’re only starting to pick up the pieces now,” said Wilthew.
Responding to the claims, Elizabeth Moody, the director of nursing and governance at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust, said: “We are aware that Faith’s family were unhappy with the care and treatment she received while she was an inpatient at West Lane hospital.
“At the time we worked with them to try and resolve the issues … We are sorry that they still feel unhappy about her experience on the ward.”
The family were unsurprised by reports that 20 staff have been suspended. Concerns date back as far as 2013, when an investigation took place in response to concerns around safety. No significant issues were raised in the report.
A subsequent inspection in June 2018 raised concerns over increasing use of restraint on Newberry ward, where Wilthew was a patient, and on the Westwood ward. The report raised concerns over low staffing levels and inadequate safety at the hospital.
The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust has published a statement confirming that concerns over non-approved techniques were being used to move patients had led to the suspensions, adding: “Concerns were raised that some procedures and guidelines were not being followed correctly. Our patients are our priority and we responded quickly to these concerns. We are currently carrying out a full and thorough investigation.”
Additional staff have been temporarily assigned to the ward while the investigation takes place, a measure the trust said aimed to “ensure a safe level of staffing across all wards at West Lane hospital”.
Wilthew did not find the statement reassuring: “That’s what they said [when I raised complaints about Faith] two years ago. Clearly nothing has changed.”
The family are hopeful that increased scrutiny will lead to change for other young people in the hospital: “I feel relieved to think that if there’s so much emphasis on the wards and the stories then maybe it will make them clean up their act.”
Hospital with 20 staff suspensions used 'shocking' restraint
Poppy Noor, Wed 30 Jan 2019
The mother of a teenage girl with mental health needs has complained about the “shocking” use of restraint at a hospital where 20 members of staff were suspended this month.
Kelly Wilthew says her daughter was lifted from her bed by her wrists and ankles and slammed on the floor while at West Lane hospital in Middlesbrough, leaving her in agonising pain.
“She was screaming saying she was hurt and she was bleeding … I knew it was wrong but we were completely helpless,” she said.
Wilthew says her then 17-year-old daughter, Faith, should not have been restrained on her front due to a hole in her stomach caused by a stoma, the result of an operation to deal with a tumour. Restraining individuals with a stoma can lead to significant and even life-threatening complications.
After a review of restraint techniques, staff were given a beanbag to reduce the impact of restraint on Wilthew’s spine and stomach. This advice was only temporarily followed, say Wilthew and her daughter.
Faith Wilthew, now 18, said the experience left her feeling like she was nothing.
“They kind of treated me like an animal. They would just lift and move me whatever way they wanted to. They definitely did not listen to me,” she said.
Her mother claims inexperienced agency staff were brought in to plug gaps at the Middlesbrough hospital, who were ill-equipped to deal with her daughter’s needs.
On one occasion, Wilthew says an agency staff worker ran out screaming when her daughter was found with a ligature around her neck, despite being in a unit for young people with mental health needs.
On another occasion in December 2017, a letter seen by the Guardian shows that Wilthew complained to managers that staff had left her daughter with a broken arm overnight.
She describes the experience as having been a “living nightmare”.
“I won’t sugarcoat it, it was horrendous. It destroyed the whole family and we’re only starting to pick up the pieces now,” said Wilthew.
Responding to the claims, Elizabeth Moody, the director of nursing and governance at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust, said: “We are aware that Faith’s family were unhappy with the care and treatment she received while she was an inpatient at West Lane hospital.
“At the time we worked with them to try and resolve the issues … We are sorry that they still feel unhappy about her experience on the ward.”
The family were unsurprised by reports that 20 staff have been suspended. Concerns date back as far as 2013, when an investigation took place in response to concerns around safety. No significant issues were raised in the report.
A subsequent inspection in June 2018 raised concerns over increasing use of restraint on Newberry ward, where Wilthew was a patient, and on the Westwood ward. The report raised concerns over low staffing levels and inadequate safety at the hospital.
The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust has published a statement confirming that concerns over non-approved techniques were being used to move patients had led to the suspensions, adding: “Concerns were raised that some procedures and guidelines were not being followed correctly. Our patients are our priority and we responded quickly to these concerns. We are currently carrying out a full and thorough investigation.”
Additional staff have been temporarily assigned to the ward while the investigation takes place, a measure the trust said aimed to “ensure a safe level of staffing across all wards at West Lane hospital”.
Wilthew did not find the statement reassuring: “That’s what they said [when I raised complaints about Faith] two years ago. Clearly nothing has changed.”
The family are hopeful that increased scrutiny will lead to change for other young people in the hospital: “I feel relieved to think that if there’s so much emphasis on the wards and the stories then maybe it will make them clean up their act.”
Hospital with 20 staff suspensions used 'shocking' restraint
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
“The average time patients spend in specialist hospitals for people with autism and learning disabilities is more than two years, according to NHS statistics. For some, the stay is much longer still.
Tony Hickmott is 41 years old and has been in one such institution for 18 years. His mother, Pam, says he has been well enough for discharge since 2003.
Every Thursday, she and her husband Roy make the 180-mile round trip to see their son in Cedar House, a 40-bedroom secure unit near Canterbury.
Since his admission, Mr Hickmott has suffered injuries including three broken arms, black eyes and extensive bruising.”
Waiting to leave: why hundreds of adults are languishing in hospital unnecessarily
Tony Hickmott is 41 years old and has been in one such institution for 18 years. His mother, Pam, says he has been well enough for discharge since 2003.
Every Thursday, she and her husband Roy make the 180-mile round trip to see their son in Cedar House, a 40-bedroom secure unit near Canterbury.
Since his admission, Mr Hickmott has suffered injuries including three broken arms, black eyes and extensive bruising.”
Waiting to leave: why hundreds of adults are languishing in hospital unnecessarily
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
Rest in Power Timothy McComb.
You deserved so much better.
Family of Leeds man found hanged 'hugely disappointed' after inquest jury returns suicide verdict
You deserved so much better.
Family of Leeds man found hanged 'hugely disappointed' after inquest jury returns suicide verdict
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
MEDIA RELEASE: Timothy had multiple needs and received disconnected, unsuitable care. His family fought for a thorough inquest & crowdfunded for legal rep. But the jury today concluded Timothy died of suicide, and detailed no further failings.
Family of Timothy McComb express disappointment at traumatic and unfair process as inquest concludes
Family of Timothy McComb express disappointment at traumatic and unfair process as inquest concludes
TruXta
tired
Surprising that no prevention of future death report was issued. Seems to me there's not enough consistency between different coroners. I've seen very similar cases resulting in a PFD.
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
I’ll check with his sister if the coroner spoke about this and see if that can be appealed for.
TruXta
tired
Some basic information here
https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/626/coroners/5533/the_inquest_system/18
TruXta
tired
Seems like they cut it to the bone. There was an interview with some lib dem cunt involved in the change to legislation in the Guardian this week iirc. He was desperate to defend the decision
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
I just spoke to her. She says that the coroner refused a PFD.
TruXta
tired
Right. Dunno if that can form part of an appeal, but it sounds like they should approach the Chief Coroner either way.
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