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Bridge fall death a 'wake-up call' for Southern Health | Bridge fall death a 'wake-up call' for Southern Health |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A coroner has criticised an NHS trust for failing a woman who fell to her death from a motorway bridge. | A coroner has criticised an NHS trust for failing a woman who fell to her death from a motorway bridge. |
Marion Munns, 74, died on the M27 near Southampton in November, after suffering a mental health breakdown. | Marion Munns, 74, died on the M27 near Southampton in November, after suffering a mental health breakdown. |
Her death was a "wake-up call" for Southern Health although no single action had caused it, coroner Grahame Short told the inquest in Winchester. | Her death was a "wake-up call" for Southern Health although no single action had caused it, coroner Grahame Short told the inquest in Winchester. |
The trust has apologised to Mrs Munns' relatives, and accepted the coroner's findings. | The trust has apologised to Mrs Munns' relatives, and accepted the coroner's findings. |
The hearing was told Mrs Munns behaved erratically in the weeks before her death, obsessively drinking water and shouting out numbers. | The hearing was told Mrs Munns behaved erratically in the weeks before her death, obsessively drinking water and shouting out numbers. |
On 12 November, she became agitated and aggressive at her Southampton home. | On 12 November, she became agitated and aggressive at her Southampton home. |
Her daughter, Kim Vella, 57, said she phoned her mother's Southern Health carer but was told the office was closing and she should dial 999. | Her daughter, Kim Vella, 57, said she phoned her mother's Southern Health carer but was told the office was closing and she should dial 999. |
In her evidence earlier, the carer Emma Bulbrooke said she tried to phone several doctors and two mental health units, but no one was immediately available. | In her evidence earlier, the carer Emma Bulbrooke said she tried to phone several doctors and two mental health units, but no one was immediately available. |
The inquest heard there was no dedicated out-of-hours service for older mental health patients because the NHS would not fund one. | The inquest heard there was no dedicated out-of-hours service for older mental health patients because the NHS would not fund one. |
While the family waited for help, Mrs Munns fled through an upstairs window. | While the family waited for help, Mrs Munns fled through an upstairs window. |
Her body was later found on the motorway at Rownhams, two miles away. | Her body was later found on the motorway at Rownhams, two miles away. |
In a narrative verdict, Mr Short said Mrs Munns' failure to take her anti-psychotic medication led to her death. | In a narrative verdict, Mr Short said Mrs Munns' failure to take her anti-psychotic medication led to her death. |
But, he said Southern Health had also failed to put in place care plans or a risk assessment. | But, he said Southern Health had also failed to put in place care plans or a risk assessment. |
Her daughter Angela Mote said: "Their policies, their procedures, are only in writing... We tried to get our mother seen [by a consultant] and yet we failed." | Her daughter Angela Mote said: "Their policies, their procedures, are only in writing... We tried to get our mother seen [by a consultant] and yet we failed." |
The family said it was considering legal action against the trust. | |
In a statement, Southern Health said it had made "comprehensive changes" to its Older Persons Mental Health Service. | |
Interim trust chief executive Julie Dawes said: "We fully accept the coroner's conclusion and acknowledge that some of the care arrangements for Mrs Munns could have been better." |
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