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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Blogger Beth Matthews' parcel should have been checked, jury told | Blogger Beth Matthews' parcel should have been checked, jury told |
| (8 months later) | |
| Beth Matthews was a well-known mental health blogger | Beth Matthews was a well-known mental health blogger |
| Beth Matthews was a well-known mental health blogger | |
| A blogger who died at a secure mental health unit should not have been allowed to open her own post, according to a risk assessment carried out only three days before her death. | A blogger who died at a secure mental health unit should not have been allowed to open her own post, according to a risk assessment carried out only three days before her death. |
| Beth Matthews, 26 and from Cornwall, had a poisonous substance delivered to a psychiatric ward at the Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal in Stockport. | Beth Matthews, 26 and from Cornwall, had a poisonous substance delivered to a psychiatric ward at the Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal in Stockport. |
| She opened the parcel in front of staff on 21 March and swallowed the contents. | She opened the parcel in front of staff on 21 March and swallowed the contents. |
| "Bright and vivacious" Ms Matthews was followed by thousands on social media. | "Bright and vivacious" Ms Matthews was followed by thousands on social media. |
| She was being treated as an NHS patient at the private hospital run by the Priory Group. | She was being treated as an NHS patient at the private hospital run by the Priory Group. |
| 'Vigilant' | 'Vigilant' |
| At her inquest, ward manager Jonathan Heathcote said Ms Matthews was on the second highest level of observation. | At her inquest, ward manager Jonathan Heathcote said Ms Matthews was on the second highest level of observation. |
| This meant a member of staff was required to keep her within eyesight at all times. | This meant a member of staff was required to keep her within eyesight at all times. |
| A risk screening, carried out on 18 March, concluded "everything Beth orders must be checked by staff… we need to be opening parcels for her". | A risk screening, carried out on 18 March, concluded "everything Beth orders must be checked by staff… we need to be opening parcels for her". |
| Mr Heathcote said it was a "very unusual thing to do, to be opening parcels for somebody". | Mr Heathcote said it was a "very unusual thing to do, to be opening parcels for somebody". |
| The standard practice was to allow a patient to open their own post with "two staff being vigilant, at arm's length". | The standard practice was to allow a patient to open their own post with "two staff being vigilant, at arm's length". |
| This recommendation was not discussed with Ms Matthews, the inquest heard. | This recommendation was not discussed with Ms Matthews, the inquest heard. |
| Mr Heathcote was asked by Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman if the new protocol "should have been discussed" with her. | Mr Heathcote was asked by Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman if the new protocol "should have been discussed" with her. |
| "It should have been discussed, full stop," he replied. | "It should have been discussed, full stop," he replied. |
| The inquest previously heard Ms Matthews ordered the poisonous substance on the internet. | The inquest previously heard Ms Matthews ordered the poisonous substance on the internet. |
| If you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via the BBC Action Line. | If you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via the BBC Action Line. |
| If you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via the BBC Action Line. | |
| The inquest heard the substance arrived in a parcel with "foreign writing" on the side and was in a small plastic screw-top container. | The inquest heard the substance arrived in a parcel with "foreign writing" on the side and was in a small plastic screw-top container. |
| Mr Heathcote told the jury: "I was not aware you could order such items online." | Mr Heathcote told the jury: "I was not aware you could order such items online." |
| An internal report by the Priory found there was "some inconsistency" in the knowledge of Ms Matthews' care plan. | An internal report by the Priory found there was "some inconsistency" in the knowledge of Ms Matthews' care plan. |
| Some staff opened post for her, while others would let her open her own parcels with staff present. | Some staff opened post for her, while others would let her open her own parcels with staff present. |
| The inquest also heard that three weeks before she died, Ms Matthews told a member of staff: "There are things you can buy, to do the job." | The inquest also heard that three weeks before she died, Ms Matthews told a member of staff: "There are things you can buy, to do the job." |
| When asked what she meant, Ms Matthews is said to have replied: "It's already done now." | When asked what she meant, Ms Matthews is said to have replied: "It's already done now." |
| Mental health blogger helped others, inquest told | Mental health blogger helped others, inquest told |
| Mental health blogger helped others, inquest told | |
| The inquest heard that a note in November 2021 had encouraged staff to be "hyper vigilant" when Ms Matthews opened parcels. | The inquest heard that a note in November 2021 had encouraged staff to be "hyper vigilant" when Ms Matthews opened parcels. |
| Later that month, after an incident involving Ms Matthews, it was recommended that staff should open her parcels. | Later that month, after an incident involving Ms Matthews, it was recommended that staff should open her parcels. |
| This was not discussed in meetings with senior staff convened to discuss her treatment, the inquest heard. | This was not discussed in meetings with senior staff convened to discuss her treatment, the inquest heard. |
| Mr Heathcote told the court: "It clearly should have been raised and some learnings have come from that." | Mr Heathcote told the court: "It clearly should have been raised and some learnings have come from that." |
| Questioned by Stephen Jones, representing the family, he replied: "The documentation is not up to scratch." | Questioned by Stephen Jones, representing the family, he replied: "The documentation is not up to scratch." |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Stockport | Stockport |
| Cornwall | Cornwall |
| Bodmin | Bodmin |
| Cheadle | Cheadle |
| Wythenshawe | Wythenshawe |
| Mental health | Mental health |