Woman 'threatened' By Nhs Ward Staff, Inquiry Told

A female who took her ain life while connected a intelligence wellness ward had been threatened and bullied by staff, her family told a nationalist inquiry.

Iris Scott, 73, was a diligent astatine nan Crystal Centre successful Chelmsford, tally by nan Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) intelligence wellness services provider, erstwhile she died location successful her bath connected 1 March 2014.

Her children gave grounds to nan Lampard Inquiry, which is examining much than 2,000 deaths astatine NHS-run inpatient units successful Essex betwixt 2000 and 2023.

They told nan enquiry they had "grave information concerns" astir her treatment. EPUT said it would "build connected nan improvements that person already been made complete nan past 24 years".

On 1 juncture their mother told them a unit personnel threatened to support nan lights connected to forestall her sleeping if she did not "stop complaining" and different deliberately blocked her way successful corridors.

Mrs Scott initially agreed to a three-week "quick fix" inpatient enactment successful August 2013 aft suffering from "unmanageable anxiety", her children said.

However, her information worsened during six months connected nan ward and her family told nan enquiry of what they considered to beryllium "failings" regarding her attraction plan, curen by staff, nan ward and consequence management, which they believed contributed to her death.

Her son, Craig Scott, said location had been "zero accountability".

Her girl Dawn Johnson said erstwhile she raised concerns that her mum had voiced wanting to extremity her life successful November 2013, nan ward head had been dismissive.

"She conscionable said I was being a paranoid girl and thing was going to hap connected that ward," Ms Johnson told nan inquiry, being held astatine Arundel House successful London.

"She went truthful acold arsenic to opportunity if you didn't calm down you'd extremity up connected nan ward arsenic well," added Rachel Troup, counsel to nan inquiry.

Due to ongoing issues, Ms Johnson and her mother began keeping diaries of incidents and interactions pinch staff, which she believed showed her mother's fear.

On 14 January 2014, Mrs Scott tried to return her ain life, resulting successful "significant" bruising astir her face, her children said.

Her family were not informed and were told she had a autumn erstwhile they questioned unit astir her injuries.

Ms Johnson said her mother confided she had been trying to return her ain life but this was rejected by unit who said Mrs Scott was "attention seeking".

They insisted she had a fall, but said they were expanding observations, nan enquiry heard.

Two days later, Ms Johnson's children recovered her mounting up a ligature successful her room successful nan aforesaid measurement she had reported.

Despite being placed connected a higher level of study and a hunt of her room, her girl recovered items for a ligature successful her wardrobe, which she said prompted much concerns from nan family astir nan competency of staff.

In consequence to nan effort to return her life, Mrs Scott reported that nan ward head told her she had "overstepped boundaries" and "gone excessively far", according to her family.

Ms Johnson said her mum had been "blackmailed" by unit who threatened to "reveal thing astir her" if she did not alteration her communicative astir nan events connected 14 January.

"Mum said she felt unit to alteration her story," Ms Johnson said.

"She was frightened."

Mrs Scott's study level was reduced successful precocious February, and she died connected 1 March aft utilizing a ligature successful her bath astatine nan unit.

Asked what she felt should person been done otherwise regarding her mother's care, Ms Johnson replied "everything".

Mrs Scott's family added they hoped immoderate recommendations for alteration were checked thoroughly to guarantee they were complied with.

"Had they [ligature points] been removed aft mum's decease possibly group who died nan pursuing twelvemonth mightiness still beryllium here," Ms Johnson said.

"Mental wellness has go much successful attraction since mum's decease but is location a existent desire to return these recommendations and others much seriously?" Iris's boy Craig Scott added.

Paul Scott, main executive of nan intelligence wellness trust, said: "My thoughts are pinch Iris's family and loved ones and I nonstop my condolences some personally and connected behalf of nan trust.

"As nan enquiry progresses location will beryllium galore accounts of group who were overmuch loved and missed complete nan past 24 years and I want to opportunity really sorry I americium for their loss.

"All of america crossed healthcare person a work to activity together to amended attraction and curen for each and to build connected nan improvements that person already been made complete nan past 24 years."

• If you've been affected by nan issues successful this story, thief and support is disposable via nan BBC Action Line