Blackpool Hospital Neglect Contributed To Suicide Of Man Who Waited 22 Hours For Help, Coroner Rules

The decease of a 27-year-old man who killed himself successful a infirmary toilet aft waiting 22 hours to beryllium seen by nan intelligence wellness squad was “contributed to by neglect”, a coroner has ruled.

Jamie Pearson was admitted to Blackpool Victoria hospital’s A&E section aft taking an overdose of high-strength painkillers connected 17 August 2024.

An inquest heard that Pearson should person been seen wrong 4 hours by intelligence wellness specialists but was deemed debased consequence and was still waiting 22 hours later erstwhile he killed himself successful a toilet.

His mother, Julie Knowles, antecedently told nan Guardian her boy was “badly grounded and fto down” by wellness professionals.

Julie Knowles, Jamie Pearson’s mother, said her boy had been ‘largely ignored’ by infirmary staff. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Alan Wilson, nan elder coroner for Blackpool and Fylde, concluded connected Tuesday that Pearson’s decease had been “contributed to by neglect”. He said nan cumulative effect of nan missed opportunities to supply intelligence wellness attraction “very comfortably” crossed nan precocious period required for a uncovering of neglect.

The inquest heard that nan infirmary was struggling to negociate diligent levels astatine nan time, pinch nary aesculapian furniture available. This meant Pearson was near successful a waiting area overnight and into nan pursuing day.

A connection breakdown meant that plans were not made for intelligence wellness specialists to spot him arsenic a priority, nan coroner was told.

Knowles, who is now considering ineligible action against nan NHS spot that runs nan hospital, said her boy had been “largely ignored” contempt being “so susceptible and suffering a breakdown”.

Pearson had told his mother successful nan waiting room that he still felt suicidal, truthful she went to pass a caregiver and asked erstwhile he would beryllium seen a intelligence wellness worker. “The caregiver past walked complete to Jamie pinch her hands connected her hips and stated rather bluntly that he needed to beryllium medically fresh earlier he was referred to nan intelligence wellness team,” she said.

“I’ll ne'er hide Jamie’s look erstwhile that happened; he looked wholly deflated. He was changeable down and talked to appallingly and bluntly, almost for illustration he was an inconvenience to them.

“I stay convinced that nan cognition of that caregiver group him back, arsenic he was already emotion fragile, and I deliberation her deficiency of empathy affected him.”

Amy Rossall, of Hudgell Solicitors, said nan inquest had identified “a drawstring of failings and missed opportunities” to forestall Pearson’s death.

The inquest astatine Blackpool coroner’s tribunal heard Pearson was classed arsenic debased consequence contempt his erstwhile termination attempt, his title successful A&E of still emotion suicidal and his desperation to spot a intelligence wellness worker.

Rossall said hourly observations of him were besides not taken and recorded arsenic they should person been. She said: “This is an exceptionally tragic case. Lessons whitethorn now person been learned arsenic a result, but that is small consolation to Jamie’s mother, who believed astatine nan clip that he was successful safe hands and successful nan champion spot fixed nan fragility of his intelligence state.

“It was clear Jamie was astatine consequence of superior harm having taken an overdose, and attempted to ligature. This inquest has highlighted a drawstring of failings and missed opportunities to guarantee Jamie was decently assessed and treated”.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, nan NHS spot that runs Blackpool Victoria hospital, has been contacted for comment.