A coroner has raised concerns with the NHS following the death of Charles Stonley
Arrowe Park Hospital, Birkenhead(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
A man with a history of severe depression was found dead in woodland after waiting for hours in an A&E cubicle for a bed to become available.
Charles Stonley, 50, died on shortly after 8am on March 13 this year after attending Arrowe Park Hospital the night before with “suicidal intentions”. But there were no mental health spaces available in the Wirral hospital’s emergency department so Mr Stonley was put in a cubicle near to the nursing bay, which a prevention of future deaths report said exposed him to more noise and distress “than if he had been in a quiet room specifically for patients suffering a crisis”.
The report made by Liverpool and Wirral area coroner Anita Bhardwaj raised concerns about the resources available to mental health patients attending emergency departments.
Ms Bhardwaj said: “It is more likely than not that if a mental health bed had been available within a reasonable time, namely a few hours, the outcome for Charles would have been different and prevented him from leaving the emergency department and carrying out the act of self harm he subsequently did.”
The ECHO has approached NHS England for a comment in response to the report.
Outlining the facts of the case, Ms Bhardwaj said Mr Stonley attended the hospital on March 12 shortly before 9pm and was “tearful, psychotic and paranoid”. The coroner said if Mr Stonley planned to leave the hospital an assessment would be carried out and a missing person alert process logged.
Mr Stonley was assessed and an informal admission to a mental health unit was agreed. He awaited a bed to be made available and remained in the emergency department in the cubicle. In the early hours of the following morning he was suffering with increased agitation and “displaying psychotic symptoms”.
He left the hospital on two occasions but was quickly returned. By 7am he was calm and had medication administered, but left the hospital an hour later stating he was going to take his own life. Merseyside Police was called by the hospital staff who reported Mr Stonley had been followed into the woods.
Mental health support
Helplines and support groups
The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
- PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
- Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity based in England providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
- Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
- Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Young Persons Advisory Service provides mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.uk
- British Red Cross offers a free and confidential coronavirus support line on 0808 196 3651 which offers callers the opportunity to speak to a friendly volunteer for a chat if they are lonely, worried or need practical support, 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm, or email supportline@redcross.org.uk
Elsewhere, the Jade L Roberts Project supports women and men in suicidal crisis in Merseyside. They also offer support for people suffering from mental health issues. You can contact them on 0151 245 5671.
He was found dead a short time later close to a public car park off Arrowe Brook Road. Toxicology revealed nothing of significance. Ms Bhardwaj said throughout the period he was at the hospital there were no legal powers to forcefully detain Mr Stonley.
Ms Bhardwaj addressed the report to NHS England Improvement, the deputy director of Patient Safety NHS England, the national director for mental health and the Health Services Safety Investigations Body.
Outlining the matter of concern, she said: “The legal powers and resources available for mental health patients in the emergency department of hospitals is limited and as such detrimental to those attending accident and emergency departments when suffering from a mental health crisis.
“The severe shortage and availability of beds in mental health facilities resulting in vulnerable patients being left in the emergency department for days increasing the risk of self harm and death.”
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust told the ECHO that NHS England was best placed to comment.