Son praises unit's caring medical team

Barbara Shaw (93), who lived at West Street, Bognor, was admitted to the Harold Kidd Unit before she died of a chest infection on May 26 this year. At an inquest at Chichester combined court centre, her son Marc said: 'I was impressed with the care they gave her, in a very difficult situation. I have nothing but admiration for them.'

Mrs Shaw was first sent to the unit, which is based at St Richard's Hospital but owned by the Sussex Partnership Trust, in June 2002.

She had become extremely violent towards her husband David and she was sectioned under Section Three of the Mental Health Act.

Mrs Shaw, who was born in Birmingham, spent about 17 months at the unit after June 2002.

In April this year she was admitted into the Harold Kidd Unit for depression. Her son said his mother had been unwell for some time. She died in the early hours of the morning on May 26.

West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield recorded a death by natural causes and concluded she died of bronchopneumonia.