Sophie Alderman’s observations had been downgraded from six checks an hour to just one, a jury heard.
A young woman who died on an Essex mental health ward had her observations reduced three days before she was found unresponsive, an inquest heard. The hearing into the death of Sophie Alderman on the Willow Ward of Rochford Community Hospital continued at Essex Coroners’ Court today (April 4).
Sophie, aged 27, had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and was found unresponsive in the Willow Ward of Rochford Community Hospital on August 19, 2022. She tragically could not be saved and died on the ward, where she had been staying under the care of the Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) since the end of June.
The inquest into her death today heard from Debra Jones, a registered mental health nurse who was the nurse in charge of staff on the day of Sophie’s death. Ms Jones told the court that previously, Sophie had been given permission to leave the inside of the ward and walk outside in the hospital grounds during her stay.
However, Ms Jones said Sophie had begun to walk outside the grounds which was against her conditions, and when asked by staff to return, she had stated she wanted to potentially harm herself, so her leave to walk in the hospital grounds was suspended. Ms Jones said that on the day she died, Sophie had been involved in an “altercation” on the ward and was later found to be knocking her head against the window frame of her room.
However, Ms Jones said Sophie had begun to walk outside the grounds which was against her conditions, and when asked by staff to return, she had stated she wanted to potentially harm herself, so her leave to walk in the hospital grounds was suspended. Ms Jones said that on the day she died, Sophie had been involved in an “altercation” on the ward and was later found to be knocking her head against the window frame of her room.
She went into the ward office to complete notes when a short while later a member of staff came into the office and picked up equipment. Ms Jones said she went back to the room with the staff where Sophie had been found unresponsive, whereupon she called 999 while other staff tried to resusicate her. Sadly, Sophie later died that day.
Laura Profumo, counsel for Sophie’s family, questioned Ms Jones on the levels of observation for Sophie. The jury heard that on August 19, there had been a “reduced” amount of staffing in Willow Ward, and that on August 16, Sophie’s observations had been downgraded from level two (six observations per hour) to level one (an hourly check). Ms Profumo told the court that in Sophie’s previous stay at a ward in Basildon, she had carried out a form of “head banging” before attempting to self harm, something Ms Jones said she had not been aware of.
Ms Profumo said: “Given her recent behaviours and an involvement in suspended leave, was there any concern or discussion between your colleagues that this would be fair to stop a reduction in observations?” Ms Jones said a discussion was had about the levels but it was still reduced. Ms Profumo said: “Do you recall any discussion about a gradual reduction of observations?” Ms Jones said she “didn’t remember any discussion” regarding that.
Ms Profumo said: “Given her recent behaviours and an involvement in suspended leave, was there any concern or discussion between your colleagues that this would be fair to stop a reduction in observations?” Ms Jones said a discussion was had about the levels but it was still reduced. Ms Profumo said: “Do you recall any discussion about a gradual reduction of observations?” Ms Jones said she “didn’t remember any discussion” regarding that.
Credit : Essex Live
