Staff at a mental health hospital chose not to increase observations on a “devoted” mum of three battling with her mental health, claiming it would have done “more harm than good”, an inquest heard.
Donna Levin told staff at Roseberry Park Hospital in Middlesbrough that she “wanted to end it” just two days before nurses found her unresponsive in her room on January 4, 2020.
The 54-year-old, from Stockton, was a patient under the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust for just a week before she suffered an “extensive and irreversible” brain injury and died in intensive care on January 8, 2020.
But despite knowing Donna’s history of previous suicide attempts and ideations, she was observed only once an hour as doctors feared more frequent visits would have “tipped her into a spiral”.
An inquest into her death at Teesside Coroners’ Court, which continued today (July 22), previously heard how Ms Levin, a special needs teacher, began to struggle with her mental health and OCD in August and September 2019.
Despite intervention from doctors and support from husband Stuart and her children, her mental health only began to worsen to the point where she was admitted to the Bransdale Ward at Roseberry Park on December 28, 2019.
Staff members at Roseberry Park who were involved in her care, including nurse Gillian Mackel, gave evidence in court today. Donna, who was struggling with sleeping, was being observed by staff once an hour.
The lack of sleep was said to have had a negative effect on Donna’s mental wellbeing – and was also compounded by stress regarding her husband’s health on January 2, 2020.
Nurse Mackel told the court: “Donna said she wanted to go home and wanted to end it, but didn’t want to go to hell. She felt her family would be better off without her.
“She didn’t feel like she had a future. Donna was very nervous for herself, her husband and children.”
But after spending time and continuing to talk with Donna, nurse Mackel said she believed that she had made progress and was “not in the same place”, meaning that she believed changing the observation plan was not warranted.
Tearful at the stand, she added: “We had mitigated these risks by talking to her. She had (suicidal) thoughts but no plans or intent at that point. We had given medication. It was the least restrictive way to manage her.”
Senior Coroner Clare Bailey and the jury then heard from consultant psychiatrist Dr Cameron Martin, who explained how more frequent observations on someone in Donna’s condition may actually have had a negative effect.
Addressing the court, Dr Martin went into detail about treatment for OCD, and how constant reassurance and, in turn, an increased presence from staff “would have possibly been harmful”.
Dr Martin said: “It was a difficult decision, we thought in depth about it.
“OCD is a hard, painful condition because it is extremely hard to escape. I may have given consideration to intermittent engagements, but continuous observations would have possibly been harmful.”
He added: “Donna wanted to be alive and wanted people to be with her all the time. She wanted continuous reassurance and support.
“It risked being damaging and doing more harm than good.”
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Dr Martin was then quizzed on an event that took place on January 3 in a meeting plan regarding Donna’s care – the day before she was found unresponsive in her room.
The court previously heard from Donna’s husband, Stuart, that in the meeting, she supposedly grabbed his hand and said: “I don’t want to be anywhere.”
Asked whether this would have demonstrated suicidal intent, Dr Martin said it was a “helpful communication” regarding Donna’s state of mind but staff “wouldn’t always take it seriously” due to the fact that statements like that are often used by patients to reflect their mood.
The inquest continues.
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