Legal News

A mental health patient who had previously tried to take his own life while at home on hospital leave was found hanged after being discharged, an inquest has heard.

Ian Dugdale of Keighley in Yorkshire was being treated as a voluntary patient at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health when he died. Mr Dugdale was found to have toxic levels of antidepressants drugs in his system, the inquest at Bradford was told.

Mr Dugdale’s partner Christina McArthur said she thought Mr Dugdale should not have been allowed off the ward he had been admitted to – and she told the Coroner’s Court that she felt at the time her concerns had been ignored.

Mr Dugdale’s consultant psychiatrist Dr Jeremy Hyde gave evidence at the inquest. Ms McArthur asked him how many times it took for someone to try to kill themselves “before alarm bells start ringing” – referring to Mr Dugdale’s previous attempts to take his own life.

“He should not have been out,” Ms McArthur told the inquest. “Ian was never better – he was always agitated. I tried to tell the nurses that,” she said.

“Four times he tried – twice while on leave from the ward. On the fifth occasion he succeeded. It feels I wasn't listened to,” added Ms McArthur.

Mr Dugdale’s death led to Bradford District Care Trust compiling a “serious untorward incident” report. The inquest heard that, as a result of the investigation, more support is now offered to mental health patients at home – prior to Mr Dugdale’s death checks were made on patients by phone.

Dr Hyde told the inquest he had tried to rehabilitate Mr Dugdale gradually and there had been no bed shortage leading to his being discharged at the time of his death – despite the fact the trust has a policy of offering more outpatient care to mental health patients to help them avoid becoming institutionalised. He added that Mr Dugdale had said he felt “fine” – but did not discuss his feelings, making it difficult to know exactly what he was feeling.

Assistant Bradford Coroner Dr Dominic Bell recorded a verdict of suicide and did not attribute any neglect in Mr Dugdale’s care to him taking his own life:

“It's very dificult for me to believe there had been any neglect on behalf of the mental health care organisation,” said Dr Bell.

“It's clear the organisation has understood its governance responsibilities by having conducted an investigation,” he added.

In a statement following the inquest into Mr Dugdale’s death, the deputy director of Bradford District Care Trust Inpatient Services, Allison Bingham, said:

“At the time of the incident, we conducted an internal investigation which concluded that this incident could not have been prevented and there was no shortfall in the care offered to Mr Dugdale. The Coroner accepted these findings.”

Bradford District Care Trust offered its condolences to Mr Dugdale’s family.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist mental health solicitors and offers free legal advice to mental health patients on mental health law, including detention under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors are also available to visit police stations and hospitals at short notice – and can also arrange reviews of care for mental health patients.

For expert advice on mental health law, contact the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.