Hospital Failings Highlight Ongoing Mental Health System Issues

Hospital failings continued after the death of Alice Figueiredo, a 22-year-old patient at Goodmayes Hospital, according to leaked documents seen by the BBC. Alice attempted to harm herself 18 times using plastic or bin bags before taking her own life in July 2015.

Just four months later, another patient on the same ward attempted a similar self-harm method. Mental health campaigners have expressed concern over the failure to learn from Alice's tragic death. Jane Figueiredo, Alice's mother, stated that the ongoing use of bin bags put patients at unnecessary risk.

North East London Mental Health Trust, or NELFT, claimed it has removed bin bags and is committed to improving care. However, internal reports reveal that significant under-reporting of incidents, poor record-keeping, and staff shortages have persisted over the last decade.

An inquiry into Alice's care revealed that of 81 incidents that should have been recorded on the NHS risk management system Datix, only 14 were logged. In the case of the young woman who attempted self-harm in November 2015, 27 out of 45 incidents were not documented.

The inquiry highlighted missed opportunities for patient management due to inadequate record-keeping. NELFT acknowledged these issues but stated it has invested in staff recruitment and retention. A former staff member reported that mandatory patient reviews were often skipped, leaving some patients untreated.

Concerns about the quality of care provided by NELFT have been raised repeatedly, including criticisms from coroners about risk assessments and communication failures. Brian Dow from the mental health charity Rethink emphasized the need for a culture of transparency to prevent similar tragedies.

The atmosphere on the ward was described as intimidating, with staff often neglecting necessary observations. Alice's family has been advocating for justice and transparency in mental health care. They stress that urgent reforms are necessary not only at NELFT but across all mental health services in the country.

NELFT expressed sorrow for Alice's death and aims to honor her memory with positive changes in care delivery. The former ward manager, Benjamin Aninakwa, is facing sentencing after being found guilty of failing to ensure patient safety, although he is appealing the conviction.