A CORONER will write to hospital bosses over his concerns about a ward where a singer was found dead following a serious mental health episode.

Mina Topley-Bird, 24, the daughter of trip hop singer Tricky, was found dead in her room at West Park Hospital, Darlington, in May, 2019.

Jurors found there had been a failure to appreciate she was at increased risk of suicide, a failure to take precautions against that increased risk and that the absence of the singer’s historic medical records at the unit meant staff were not aware of her impulsive behaviour.

Miss Topley-Bird had performed with her band in Newcastle and was travelling back to her home in London when it was heard at an earlier inquest that she had a mental episode.

On Monday, jurors were told she was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital on May 5 and was transferred to West Park the next day.

The inquest held at Redhills, Durham, heard the singer had expressed “absolute frustration” after being told shortly before her death that no bed was available in London.

Nurse Denise Boggon said Miss Topley-Bird had come to the office on Elm ward, where she was being treated voluntarily, at about 2.50pm on May 8. Ms Boggon said: “She asked if a bed had been found in London. I apologised and said unfortunately not. She made a throwaway remark – something like ‘I may as well kill myself’.

The inquest also heard documents from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, where Miss Topley-Bird was being treated, had not been received by West Park.

Coroner James Thompson who recorded a narrative verdict, said he would be writing a report to the Secretary of State for Health in regards to the national policy for transferring patients between trusts.

He also said he would be writing to the chief executive of Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which West Park is under, regarding his concerns about uploading documentation.

He said: "I also feel that where the Trust are having to work with their acute partners in this case, County Durham and Darlington, they were unable to access printers to print off documentation, which seems to me a real risk for these not to be available to be printed. This is a real concern."

Mr Thompson said: "I want to offer my condolences to Mina's family. No one who has heard the evidence couldn't be moved for the premature death of a talented woman."