Nhs Trust Pleads Guilty After Teenage Girl Absconded From 24-hour Care And Killed Herself

An NHS spot has pleaded blameworthy to failures complete nan avoidable decease of a teenage woman who killed herself aft absconding from 24-hour supervision nether its care.

Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, who suffered pinch terrible intelligence wellness problems, died connected 20 March 2022, minutes aft leaving nan Bluefin acute children’s ward successful Worthing hospital, portion of University hospitals Sussex NHS spot (UHSussex).

The supervising agency caregiver watched Ellame time off nan ward, but did not travel her because she said she had been instructed not to time off nan ward if a diligent absconded, Brighton magistrates tribunal was told.

On Monday nan spot pleaded blameworthy to a nonaccomplishment to supply safe attraction and curen resulting successful avoidable harm. In mitigation it said nan acute ward was not equipped to woody pinch susceptible intelligence wellness patients, but nan spot had accepted Ellame because of a “growing situation nationally” complete nan shortage of intelligence wellness beds for children and adolescents.

The prosecution was brought by nan infirmary regulator, nan Care Quality Commission. Its barrister, James Marsland, said nan spot had exposed Ellame “to a consequence of important avoidable harm”.

He said its argumentation connected missing patients “did not supply immoderate meaningful guidance connected what to do erstwhile a susceptible diligent is seen to beryllium absconding”. He added nan constabulary created disorder among unit and noted that nan caregiver caring for Ellame was “under nan belief she should not travel her”.

Marsland said Ellame had a analyzable test and was astatine consequence of self-harm and absconding. She tried to abscond from nan infirmary aggregate times successful nan weeks earlier her death, Marsland told nan court.

In a unfortunate effect statement, Ellame’s mother, Nancy Ford-Dunn, said: “Ellame deserved to beryllium kept safe and get good and person a fulfilling life. Her early has been ripped from her and from us.”

Eleanor Sanderson, nan counsel for UHSussex, said: “The spot accepts nan halfway failing was nan 2019 missing diligent policy. It wasn’t clear astir what to do erstwhile a diligent absconds.”

She said nan argumentation should person been updated to bespeak nan reality that a increasing number of intelligence wellness patients were being cared for connected acute children’s ward owed to a nationalist shortage of intelligence wellness beds.

Sanderson said: “The determination to admit Ellame to nan Bluefin ward placed nan spot successful an invidious position. It didn’t person nan resources aliases accomplishment to attraction for her but nan replacement was a refusal to admit.”

Separately, nan spot is nether constabulary investigation for imaginable individual and firm manslaughter complete much than 90 deaths involving alleged negligence and screen up successful wide room and neurosurgery. It is besides 1 of 14 trusts taxable to a national enquiry announced past month, into failures successful maternity services.

An inquest into Ellame’s decease opened past year. It was adjourned pending nan result of nan prosecution.

Ellame’s mother, who is supported by nan kindness Inquest, told nan court: “The ineligible process is taking truthful very very long. We still await nan inquest. It delays nan grieving process and keeps america trapped successful nan details. We are surviving not living.”

She added: “There is an Ellame shaped spread successful our lives and that absence screams each day.” Ellame had been diagnosed pinch dyslexia, autism and attraction shortage hyperactivity disorder, and recovered secondary schoolhouse challenging, nan tribunal heard. Her mother said she loved dancing pinch her younger sister and oversea swimming her her younger brother.

“Ellame was a group pleaser who ever cared much astir different people’s feelings than her own,” she said.

UHSussex has not yet been sentenced complete Ellame’s death. It is expected to beryllium issued a important fine.