An inquest into the tragic suicide of 27-year-old Ellie Woolnough has uncovered significant deficiencies in mental health services provided by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT). Ellie, who had a history of anxiety and was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, sought treatment but, according to the inquest, NSFT repeatedly failed to offer adequate support.
The coroner, Darren Stewart, criticized the trust for missed opportunities, ineffective risk management, and poor safety planning. This verdict echoes concerns raised by individuals under NSFT’s care, contradicting the trust’s claims of service improvement. The trust’s performance is assessed as “requires improvement” by the health regulator after four previous “inadequate” evaluations.
The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk insists that the trust remains in crisis due to austerity-driven cuts in 2013. Last year, a review revealed 8,440 “unexpected” deaths among NSFT patients, prompting calls for a public inquiry into the trust’s failures.
Ellie’s case highlights systemic issues. In July 2022, she attempted suicide, and the crisis team’s response, marked by a downgrade from emergency to urgent, was deemed inadequate. The subsequent fatal self-harm revealed lapses in staff shortages and poor risk management. The trust’s failure to retain a recording of the crucial triage call was labeled a “very serious” breach of its duty of candor.
The inquest underscored an unsettling “race to discharge” patients despite symptoms, with an emphasis on limiting patient contact, contrary to expectations from publicly funded mental health services. Although the coroner stopped short of directly linking NSFT’s failures to Ellie’s death, her parents express lingering questions about the impact of better care.
The trust’s approach, characterized by reluctance to treat and limited follow-ups, is a cause of concern for healthcare professionals. A lack of psychiatrists, improper assessments, and a failure to grasp the devastating effects of mental health issues contribute to the ongoing crisis. Recent suspected murders by individuals with NSFT contact and previous homicides further emphasize the urgent need for improved mental health services.
Despite NSFT’s claims of improvement, critics argue that the trust’s upgrade by the regulator does not align with deteriorating services. Calls for a public inquiry persist as NSFT grapples with serious deficiencies and families seek transparency. An NSFT spokesperson acknowledged the need for improvement, emphasizing organizational priorities, but critics demand concrete actions to prevent further tragedies and restore public confidence in mental health services.
