A CORONER has delivered a damning assessment of a mental health service’s actions in the days before a young Hampshire woman took her own life.
The risk to the safety of Hannah Groves was “not adequately identified” in the run-up to her tragic death, Southampton Coroner Keith Wiseman said this morning.
The 20-year-old had requested treatment at a mental health unit in Southampton after making several attempts to take her own life in the week before she died.Continue reading this article
Mr H, an 81 year old gentleman at the time of the negligence, was admitted to Darent Valley Hospital in January 2009, following a fall at home, as a result of which he suffered a fracture of the arm.
On admission, he was noted to be suffering from chronic dementia and appeared very confused.Continue reading this article
Nick joined Julia George’s BBC Radio Kent program this morning to discuss, in some detail, the unanimous decision by Medway Councillors to refer to the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, the decision by the Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust to close the Acute Mental Health bed admission provision at Medway Maritime Hospital.Continue reading this article
After a lot of careful preparation, we are pleased to announce that we have successfully made the move to our new offices at Estuary View Business Park in Whitstable today.Continue reading this article
During 2003, our client, Mr G, from Canterbury, was admitted to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital at Canterbury and diagnosed with pancreatitis. Conservative management was advised.
Late in 2008, he presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. He was seen at the QEQM Hospital in Margate where, early in 2009, endoscopic ultrasound scanning showed gallstones.Continue reading this article
This morning Nick Fairweather joined Teresa Murray, Deputy Labour Leader in Medway, in discussing current proposals to shut the Acute Mental Health Admission Ward at Medway Maritime Hospital.
This follows recent closures of psychiatric inpatient facilities at Thanet and Ashford, this leaving just three admission centres proposed, in Canterbury, Maidstone and Dartford.Continue reading this article
Staff member at Antelope House called Hannah Groves ‘a waste of space’ before she took her own life
A MENTAL health worker described a woman as a “waste of space” in a foul mouthed outburst just hours before the woman took her own life, an inquest heard.
Hannah Groves wanted treatment at a specialist mental health unit in Southampton after saying she wanted to kill herself but she was told there was no space.Continue reading this article
Medway NHS Foundation Trust* is in special measures following the Keogh Review.
There are 267 Trusts overall within the UK. The Keogh review looked at the 14 NHS Trusts within the UK with the highest death toll (mortality rates) from 2011-2012.
These mortality rates are based upon a scoring system that accounts for different case mixes – for instance accepting there are more deaths in Hospitals with higher risk patients. A score of over 100 is above the national average.Continue reading this article
Today is graduation day at the University of Kent’s Law School. The graduation ceremony took place at Canterbury Cathedral this morning, followed by Law School prizes and awards being made this afternoon in a marquee on the University grounds which was filled with students, their families and staff.
As in previous years, we were proud to present the Fairweathers annual prize for best contribution to the Kent Law Clinic.Continue reading this article
Our client, a 62 year old man at the time, attended at the eye casualty department at the Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup on 28.10.10, was found to be suffering from a painful left eye, which was red and inflamed, with intermittent blurring. It was decided that he should be seen in the ophthalmic clinic within two weeks.Continue reading this article