An NHS employee has been penalized for breaching health and safety regulations, resulting in a trust being fined over £500,000 after a woman passed away at a secure mental health facility.
Alice Figueiredo tragically committed suicide at Goodmayes Hospital in London in July 2015. The 22-year-old, who was grappling with bipolar disorder and an eating disorder, was receiving treatment at the Hepworth ward of the hospital.
Following a recent court ruling, the North East London NSH Foundation Trust, along with ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, were found negligent in their duty to prevent the young woman from taking her own life. As a consequence, the trust has been fined £565,000 for the health and safety violation and instructed to cover £200,000 in expenses.
Mr. Aninakwa, aged 54, received a suspended six-month prison sentence and was mandated to perform 300 hours of unpaid work by Judge Richard Marks KC. The judge expressed sorrow, stating, “She was a beautiful, vibrant young woman. Her untimely death under such circumstances is a tragic loss.”
Alice’s mother, Jane Figueiredo, a former hospital chaplain, previously disclosed that Alice had foreseen her own demise. According to her, Alice had expressed her fear by saying, “The only way I’m leaving this ward is in a body bag.” She felt unsafe in that environment.
Ms. Figueiredo further revealed that her family had been met with dismissive and belittling treatment. She emphasized the significant impact of Alice’s preventable death on their lives and criticized the lack of proper patient care within the NHS.
During her stay at the facility, the trust failed to remove plastic items that Alice had previously used for self-harm on multiple occasions. Allegedly, staff members were seen neglecting their duties by using their phones instead of attending to patients.
Alice’s mother expressed shock and distress over the negligence that persisted even after her daughter’s passing. She highlighted the failure to remove items that could have averted the tragedy a decade ago, emphasizing the continued risk posed to patients. NELFT has since confirmed the removal of these items.
For support during difficult times, individuals are encouraged to reach out to Samaritans at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org for assistance.