JANE Figueiredo’s daughter Alice took her own life in an NHS hospital after more than 10 similar attempts at self-harm.
The 22-year-old, who had been diagnosed with bipolar and an eating disorder, died while under care at the Hepworth Ward at Goodmayes Hospital in Redbridge.
Alice Figueiredo made previous attempts to take her own life, the Old Bailey heard[/caption]
Goodmayes Hospital in Redbridge where the 22-year-old died[/caption]
The unit is run by the North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), which has only twice faced corporate manslaughter charges.
Her family described the former head girl as having a “luminous, kind, thoughtful, generous, warm, humorous and deeply loving presence” and a bright future ahead of her.
Despite her mental health challenges, Alice had periods where she lived a full, motivated and enthusiastic life in the community, they said.
She was a member of the UK youth parliament, chair of the Havering Youth Council and worked with local police to improve relations between the youth community and police
This week, following a seven-month trial at the Old Bailey, NELFT and a ward manager were found guilty of serious safety failings linked to her death.
A jury concluded that not enough had been done to prevent Alice from taking her own life.
Speaking outside court, her mother said: “You are not unassailable. You are not above the law.
“You need to do far, far better to stop failing those people you have a duty of care to.”
She added: “If you don’t make radical changes in your conduct and attitudes towards the people you have a responsibility to care for and keep safe, then people like Alice will continue to come to serious, avoidable harm, or senselessly lose their lives.
“This is happening with impunity, time and again, behind the locked doors of wards and in the community across the country.”
The court heard NELFT repeatedly failed to remove plastic bags from toilets on the ward, despite Alice using them in at least ten previous self-harm attempts.
Ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, 53, was found guilty of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients.
He was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter.
NELFT was convicted of failing to ensure the safety of a non-employee, but found not guilty of corporate manslaughter.
Alice was first admitted to the Hepworth Ward in May 2012 with a diagnosis including non-specific eating disorder and bipolar affective disorder, jurors heard.
During her time there, she used plastic bags from the same toilets to self-harm on at least ten occasions – but the court heard they were never properly removed or locked away.
Ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, 53, was found guilty of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients[/caption]
The suicide attempts were recorded in ward notes and other hospital records.
Between admissions, Alice had long periods when hospital treatment wasn’t needed.
She had been applying to go to university and was planning a brighter future, according to reports from the BBC.
Alice was also admitted to the same ward in February 2015, where she was under close observation.
Her death in July 2015 came after eight further incidents involving similar items.
Benjamin, who was subject to a performance improvement plan, had failed to remove plastic bags that could be used for self-harm and failed to ensure incidents of self-harm were recorded, considered and addressed, jurors heard.
‘Tragic series of inactions’
Alice’s stepfather Max Figueiredo said: “We haven’t got the highest charges, but we have moved the dial.”
Detective Inspector Jonathan Potter, who led the Met Police investigation, said: “They have had to endure years of heartbreak before sitting through a long and difficult trial where they heard time and time again about the tragic series of inactions that led to their daughter’s death.”
Priya Singh, lawyer for more than 120 families affected by mental health failings in Essex, said: “We are of the view that Jane should now be included in the Lampard Inquiry as a Core Participant, irrespective of the verdict.”
The jury deliberated for more than 125 hours. Judge Richard Marks KC thanked them for their “immense hard work” and excused them from further jury service for life.
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