Coroner raises concerns over death of A&E healthcare assistant who took own life

A coroner has called for change after a former healthcare assistant who worked in the A&E department at Cumberland Infirmary took her own life.

Brenda Shields had struggled with her mental health for some time. An inquest heard how she has a number of health issues, and had turned to alcohol to numb the pain.

The 57-year-old was admitted to hospital on numerous occasions after trying to take her own life. In 2021, she was admitted to the Hadrian Unit at the hospital after being found on the riverbank by police.

READ MORE:

She was admitted to hospital again in October 2022 after an intentional overdose. An inquest that concluded on June 6, 2023, ruled that Brenda she had taken her own live in December 2022.

Now, Dr Nicholas Shaw submitted a Prevention of Future Deaths report to Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust action to be taken to prevent the same circumstances from happening again. In the report, Dr Shaw highlights that in 2021, Brenda was discharged from hospital with no follow up in place.

The report explains: “Brenda was not comfortable in the ward environment and on 14/11/21 discharged home to be followed up by the Crisis Team who did visit her at home the following day. Brenda’s GP was not informed of her admission or discharge so was unaware of events until a prearranged telephone call on the 15th.

“Brenda was followed up at home and by telephone, at several contacts she was noted to be under the influence of alcohol. Brenda was discharged after a final “MDT” meeting on 6/12/22 [it is not clear who was involved], declining further input and denying any thoughts of self harm, a risk assessment on 8/12/22 records low or no apparent risks, this was the day Brenda died.”

Dr Shaw highlighted a number of concerns in his report, Brenda was discharged without any planned follow-up, he said. Her family were not involved in the discharge process despite assurances that they would be, the report continued.

The report said: “Her GP did not receive discharge notification from the Hadrian unit until 8 days after the event or from the Crisis team until 10 days after Brenda’s death. Referrals promised from Hadrian unit to Drug/Alcohol services and Persistent Physical Symptoms Service were not made.”

Dr Shaw said he believes not enough weight was given to Brenda’s struggle with alcohol. He said that her family are struggling to understand how she was graded low risk on the day she died.

READ NEXT: