Closed Woodlands unit criticised
THE NHS trust which runs a mental health unit closed last week after two suicides in as many as months has been roundly criticised.
Sussex Partnership NHS Trust shut the Woodlands ward, on the site of the Conquest Hospital, after two patients were found hanged in the space of seven weeks.
The trust says the unit will remain closed while an investigation takes place into the deaths of John Blair, 40, of Elphinstone Road, and Sergeant Richard Bexhell, 49.
Mr Blair was found hanging on October 19 and died three days later.
Sgt Bexhell was admitted to the ward in August after becoming distressed on holiday with his wife Lyn and their four sons in Lanzarote.
A spokesman for the family said they hoped the inquest would provide them with some much needed answers.
He said: "Richard was a brilliant and loving husband and father. He was the sort of person who would do anything for anybody and would always go the extra mile to help people out. Since his death we have received countless letters from people whose lives he touched, saying what a special person he was.
"He dedicated his life to being a good husband and father, and was committed to the police service. We miss him desperately and hope that the inquest will provide some answers to the questions we have surrounding the circumstances of his death."
And Paul Sankey, of solicitors Russell Walker and Jones, who is acting for the Bexhell family said: "It is clear that Richard Bexhell and his family were failed by the Woodlands unit with tragic consequences.
"Despite his status as high risk, he was placed in a room with easily accessible ligature points and, incredibly, staff failed to remove his belt.
"In addition, Richard was supposed to be on 15 minute suicide watch but when he was found unconscious and admitted to hospital, medical staff said he may have been without oxygen for up to 30 minutes – indicating that the 15 minute checks were not being observed."
Earlier this year, an inquest found Michael Stevens hanged himself with his belt at the Meadowfield Hospital in Worthing, which is also run by the Sussex Partnership Trust. Two of his scheduled 15-minute checks were missed after a staff mix-up.
Mr Sankey added: "Mrs Bexhell is trying to come to terms with her loss, and in these circumstances she would hope a unit would learn from what went wrong.
"The death of Mr Blair adds another level to her distress."
But a spokesman for the Trust said: "Sussex Partnership refutes
absolutely the allegation from the family solicitor that Sgt Bexhell was not observed every 15 minutes.
"We understand that this is a very difficult period for the family and we have extended an open invitation to them to meet with us at any time. We have also offered to meet them to discuss the findings of our investigations as soon as these are completed."
Do you have any experience of the Woodlands? Should it be closed for good or does the town need a mental health unit? Leave your comments below.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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