Hospital supervision inadequate for mental health patient
When he was sixty years old, Gerald began to suffer mental health problems following suspected strokes which had caused his health to deteriorate.
Following this, Gerald’s wife cared for him at home but he made several suicide attempts and went missing for hours on numerous occasions.
Eventually Gerald was admitted as an inpatient on a psychiatric ward and was initially placed under frequent observations due to his suicide risk. However, Gerald’s observations were then decreased to hourly checks although on one particular night he was noted to be quite disturbed and anxious.
When Gerald requested permission to go out for a cigarette one day, he was allowed to go out alone but did not return. He was found several hours later having jumped from a water tank on the hospital grounds, resulting in broken heels and a fractured hip.
Clinical negligence solicitor, Angela Kirtley is representing Gerald in pursuing a claim against the NHS Trust on the basis that Gerald should not have been allowed out alone.