Family Of Nurse Found Dead In River Say She Was Failed By ‘systemic Neglect’

The family of a caregiver whose assemblage was recovered successful a stream aft a three-week hunt person said she was grounded by “systemic neglect and under-resourcing successful intelligence wellness services”.

Victoria Taylor, 34, was described astatine an inquest arsenic a “devoted mother, a loving fiancee and a fiercely loyal sister”.

She went missing from her location successful Malton, North Yorkshire, connected 30 September past year. Her body was recovered from nan River Derwent connected 22 October aft an extended search.

The inquest into her decease successful Northallerton heard that Taylor struggled pinch intoxicant and intelligence wellness problems related to a puerility trauma.

Coroner Catherine Cundy said nan trauma near “an indelible mark” connected Taylor’s life “in nan shape of depression, worry and chronic feelings of worthlessness”. Recording a communicative verdict, Cundy said she could not beryllium judge of Taylor’s intentions erstwhile she went into nan river.

In a connection issued afterwards, Taylor’s sister, Emma Worden, said she hoped nan inquest would beryllium a turning point. She said: “Vixx was a devoted mother, a loving fiancee and a fiercely loyal sister. She showed up for those she loved pinch warmth, humour and a heavy consciousness of care.

“Her relationships were cardinal to her identity, and she gave everything she had to protect and support nan group astir her. She besides lived pinch challenges, these were not hidden.

“She reached retired for help. She made herself visible to services. And yet, clip and again, she was grounded and near without nan support she needed. The failures successful her attraction were not isolated incidents. They were portion of a wider shape of systemic neglect and under-resourcing successful intelligence wellness services.

“Vixx deserved better. She deserved to beryllium seen, heard and supported. Instead, she was near to transportation burdens alone. Her decease is simply a tragedy, but it must besides beryllium a turning point. Let this inquest beryllium a measurement toward accountability, learning and change.”

During nan daylong inquest Worden turned to representatives of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS instauration spot (TEWV) saying they were going “round successful circles”. She said: “Nobody looked her successful nan oculus and said ‘we will thief you’, and she’s not present now because you grounded her.”

The coroner said she would beryllium penning to TEWV and a number of different agencies pinch her concerns complete nan support Taylor was given.

She said she recovered it “difficult to understand” why organization intelligence wellness services many times declined to connection Taylor support arsenic her business deteriorated during 2024.

Cundy said she believed this was partially because Taylor was treated arsenic an alcoholic erstwhile she was not limited connected alcohol, alternatively being personification who binged connected vino erstwhile her emotions relating to her traumatic past overwhelmed her.

Elspeth Devanney, nan group head for nursing and value astatine TEWV, said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are pinch Victoria’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

“Following Victoria’s tragic death, we completed a reappraisal and person made changes to amended our services. We will respond to nan coroner’s study and return action to proceed to amended and supply high-quality attraction to nan group successful our communities.”