A man whose mother committed suicide after failing to see NHS psychiatric services for three months has said it is wrong for a public inquiry to not investigate the deaths of her mother and others like her.
Mr Lampard's inquiry has looked into the deaths of around 2,000 mentally ill people in Essex since 2000, but Andrea Waddington's death occurred in February after the inquiry's chosen closing date of late last year. It is not included because it occurred in Additionally, Waddington, who was 59 years old at the time of her death, was excluded because she was receiving treatment in the community.
Her son James, 29, said the exclusion made no sense. “The outpatient experience is just as bad, if not more so,” he said. “And although she died, [away] Outside of the period, obviously the difficulties in her treatment process occurred within the last year, and she is still in the treatment period. ”
He also said he was told there would be no free beds even if the rooms were split.
James said his mother was amputated in 2012, was put on antidepressants, and was doing well until his own mother became ill early last year. The doctor said her mental state worsened after her doctor changed her medication, and the type and dosage of her medication changed frequently over the next several months.
When she started having suicidal thoughts, a mental health crisis team began visiting her, but then stopped, he said. James estimates that her mother sees a psychiatrist five times a year, three of which were over the phone.
In October last year, a psychiatrist told Ms Waddington they were leaving the area and their next appointment was over the phone, but it wasn't until February that another psychiatrist told them they were also leaving. It was two days, James said. Two days later, her father found her dead in the loft.
“There was a period of three months with no help from the NHS, but that didn't change her mind,” Ms James said. “In the period from October to February, no one was involved. For the mental health team to step in and say, 'Okay, we don't have a psychiatrist, so we're going to resume visits.' could have been done. There was basically nothing, just emptiness.
“If you put it in the mind of a mother, she's been waiting for a long time, and she finally gets a call, and the person basically just says, [they’re leaving]”
He said that before his mother became ill last year, he was “very cheerful” and enjoyed gardening, yoga and playing the piano. “She thought she would have another 30 years with her,” he said.
Priya Singh, a senior associate at Hodge, Jones & Allen, who is representing the family, said there are many others in the same position. “They have valuable evidence to share; [inquiry] “The Chair needs to urgently consider the position regarding such families,” she said.
Anne Sheridan, executive nurse at Essex Partnership Universities NHS Foundation Trust, said the Waddingtons' sentiments were the same: “We are committed to improving the care we provide to people with often complex needs. I'm always trying.” Of course, we will incorporate any recommendations from future coronial investigations. ”
A spokesperson for the inquiry said “unfortunately” there was a “need to set an end date” and that including all community care would “significantly extend the scope beyond the investigation's core objective of investigating inpatient deaths”. It will be expanded to.”
They expressed their sympathy for the mother's death and added: “We encourage Mr Waddington (and anyone affected) to contact the investigation either in person or through their legal representative.”
