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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/11/sister-of-uk-man-joseph-phuong-who-died-in-custody-hits-out-over-mental-health-services
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| Sister of UK man who died in custody hits out over mental health services | Sister of UK man who died in custody hits out over mental health services |
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| The sister of a man with schizophrenia who died following police custody in south London has hit out at the lack of resources in mental health services after an inquest jury concluded a “chaotic response” to his medical emergency could have led to his death. | The sister of a man with schizophrenia who died following police custody in south London has hit out at the lack of resources in mental health services after an inquest jury concluded a “chaotic response” to his medical emergency could have led to his death. |
| Joseph Phuong, 32, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia 10 years ago and received monthly injections of an anti-psychotic drug that allowed him to live with periods of happiness and calm. | Joseph Phuong, 32, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia 10 years ago and received monthly injections of an anti-psychotic drug that allowed him to live with periods of happiness and calm. |
| But in June 2015 he started behaving erratically and after breaking into his neighbour’s house was detained under the Mental Health Act. | But in June 2015 he started behaving erratically and after breaking into his neighbour’s house was detained under the Mental Health Act. |
| “On 3 June 2015, all Joseph needed was help. Instead, he was met with ambivalence and disrespect,” his sister Louise Rowland told the Guardian. “No one took responsibility for his welfare and instead left it to someone else to take care of, which no one did.” | “On 3 June 2015, all Joseph needed was help. Instead, he was met with ambivalence and disrespect,” his sister Louise Rowland told the Guardian. “No one took responsibility for his welfare and instead left it to someone else to take care of, which no one did.” |
| The response by authorities leading up to his death was “disorganised and lacked urgency”, an inquest jury concluded on 4 October following the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. | The response by authorities leading up to his death was “disorganised and lacked urgency”, an inquest jury concluded on 4 October following the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. |
| First, Phuong, a web designer, was taken to West Middlesex hospital A&E by ambulance with a police escort but, after waiting several hours without assessment or treatment, he decided to leave. At no point had his behaviour been threatening or violent. However, later he broke into a neighbour’s home and was detained under the mental health act. | First, Phuong, a web designer, was taken to West Middlesex hospital A&E by ambulance with a police escort but, after waiting several hours without assessment or treatment, he decided to leave. At no point had his behaviour been threatening or violent. However, later he broke into a neighbour’s home and was detained under the mental health act. |
| He was transported by police van to Springfield psychiatric hospital in Tooting but there were no beds available. A request to University College Hospital (UCH) in Euston, which did have a bed, was refused because Phuong lived out of borough. | He was transported by police van to Springfield psychiatric hospital in Tooting but there were no beds available. A request to University College Hospital (UCH) in Euston, which did have a bed, was refused because Phuong lived out of borough. |
| Police officers decided to transfer Phuong to St George’s hospital in Tooting. While they waited for an ambulance he became increasingly agitated, repeatedly banging his head on the ground, and was restrained by up to five officers for about three hours. | Police officers decided to transfer Phuong to St George’s hospital in Tooting. While they waited for an ambulance he became increasingly agitated, repeatedly banging his head on the ground, and was restrained by up to five officers for about three hours. |
| While waiting at St George’s, Phuong was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. He was taken to Kingston police station where he was restrained for a fourth time by five officers and left naked in a cell for some time. | While waiting at St George’s, Phuong was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. He was taken to Kingston police station where he was restrained for a fourth time by five officers and left naked in a cell for some time. |
| After nine hours, doctors arrived to assess him under the Mental Health Act. He was detained for a further eight and a half hours before being taken to Springfield hospital, where a bed had become available. | After nine hours, doctors arrived to assess him under the Mental Health Act. He was detained for a further eight and a half hours before being taken to Springfield hospital, where a bed had become available. |
| Officers noted that he was coughing up bloody phlegm and was breathing strangely, but did not call a doctor or report any concerns to the nurse transporting him to hospital. | Officers noted that he was coughing up bloody phlegm and was breathing strangely, but did not call a doctor or report any concerns to the nurse transporting him to hospital. |
| He arrived at Springfield hospital in the early hours of 5 June 2015. His pulse rate was high but no other concerns were noted. After kicking tables and chairs in his room, Phuong was restrained for a sixth time, taken to the seclusion room and tranquillised. He was placed on constant observation at 2.05am but was found dead less than two hours later. | He arrived at Springfield hospital in the early hours of 5 June 2015. His pulse rate was high but no other concerns were noted. After kicking tables and chairs in his room, Phuong was restrained for a sixth time, taken to the seclusion room and tranquillised. He was placed on constant observation at 2.05am but was found dead less than two hours later. |
| It was suspected that Phuong, who lived in Twickenham, died of a heart attack, although the cause of death was recorded as unascertained at the inquest, as directed by the coroner. | It was suspected that Phuong, who lived in Twickenham, died of a heart attack, although the cause of death was recorded as unascertained at the inquest, as directed by the coroner. |
| Rowland, 29, believes her brother’s death could have been prevented. | Rowland, 29, believes her brother’s death could have been prevented. |
| “Joseph was such a decent, kind person who had everything going for him,” she said. “He was a computer whiz, was into sports and was always willing to help a friend in need. | “Joseph was such a decent, kind person who had everything going for him,” she said. “He was a computer whiz, was into sports and was always willing to help a friend in need. |
| “Had he not had schizophrenia, no doubt he would have gone on to great things. He was struck by this debilitating mental illness at the age of 22, which hindered his ability to reach his full potential. | “Had he not had schizophrenia, no doubt he would have gone on to great things. He was struck by this debilitating mental illness at the age of 22, which hindered his ability to reach his full potential. |
| “Nonetheless, he remained ambitious and throughout his illness continued to study online, wanting to better himself. His death in 2015 has left us heartbroken and frustrated with the services who are supposed to keep us safe.” | “Nonetheless, he remained ambitious and throughout his illness continued to study online, wanting to better himself. His death in 2015 has left us heartbroken and frustrated with the services who are supposed to keep us safe.” |
| She added: “Had he received the appropriate attention at West Middlesex A&E and been admitted as a psychiatric inpatient at Queen Mary’s, which was what happened following his previous relapses, I am certain he would still be alive. | She added: “Had he received the appropriate attention at West Middlesex A&E and been admitted as a psychiatric inpatient at Queen Mary’s, which was what happened following his previous relapses, I am certain he would still be alive. |
| “It would also have meant that the chain of events that subsequently occurred would not have happened. It was also evident from the inquest that there is a serious problem with a lack of resources and funding in mental health services. Without further investment, it is inevitable that more people will die in situations that are easily preventable.” | “It would also have meant that the chain of events that subsequently occurred would not have happened. It was also evident from the inquest that there is a serious problem with a lack of resources and funding in mental health services. Without further investment, it is inevitable that more people will die in situations that are easily preventable.” |
| The inquest jury concluded that the initial contact with West Middlesex hospital was “at best perfunctory and conveyed a lack of urgency, causing a substantive delay in the arrangement of a Mental Health Act assessment”. | The inquest jury concluded that the initial contact with West Middlesex hospital was “at best perfunctory and conveyed a lack of urgency, causing a substantive delay in the arrangement of a Mental Health Act assessment”. |
| The police “exhibited a general lack of fluency and compassion” in how to deal with mental health detainees, the jury found. | The police “exhibited a general lack of fluency and compassion” in how to deal with mental health detainees, the jury found. |
| “The chaotic response to the subsequent medical emergency, which was disorganised and lacked urgency, possibly contributed to Joseph’s death,” they said. | “The chaotic response to the subsequent medical emergency, which was disorganised and lacked urgency, possibly contributed to Joseph’s death,” they said. |
| Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, which provides specialist support for bereaved people following a state-related death and has been working with Phuong’s family, said: “Joseph’s death and the conclusions of this inquest are an indictment of the way vulnerable people are treated by mental health services and the police. | Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, which provides specialist support for bereaved people following a state-related death and has been working with Phuong’s family, said: “Joseph’s death and the conclusions of this inquest are an indictment of the way vulnerable people are treated by mental health services and the police. |
| “Yet this death is not the first in these circumstances and sadly won’t be the last. | “Yet this death is not the first in these circumstances and sadly won’t be the last. |
| “Enough is enough. The prime minister talks about the ‘burning injustice’ of mental illness. What greater injustice than the preventable deaths of people in mental health crisis? The government must act to prevent further deaths of some of society’s most vulnerable people.” | “Enough is enough. The prime minister talks about the ‘burning injustice’ of mental illness. What greater injustice than the preventable deaths of people in mental health crisis? The government must act to prevent further deaths of some of society’s most vulnerable people.” |
| Nancy Collins, from Hodge Jones and Allen, who represented the family at the inquest, said: “Joseph was very unwell and desperately needed urgent medical attention. | Nancy Collins, from Hodge Jones and Allen, who represented the family at the inquest, said: “Joseph was very unwell and desperately needed urgent medical attention. |
| “A catastrophic lack of resources meant that he didn’t receive the right care and treatment and instead endured prolonged police restraint and spent a long time in police custody before being restrained and tranquillised in a mental health detention, where he died.” | “A catastrophic lack of resources meant that he didn’t receive the right care and treatment and instead endured prolonged police restraint and spent a long time in police custody before being restrained and tranquillised in a mental health detention, where he died.” |
| • This article was amended on 13 October 2017 to update some details at the request of Phuong’s family. | • This article was amended on 13 October 2017 to update some details at the request of Phuong’s family. |
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| Deaths in custody | Deaths in custody |
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| Health | Health |
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