Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2017

Abigail Baynham

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2017-0104, written 3 Apr 2017. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report3 Apr 2017
Reference2017-0104
DeceasedAbigail Baynham
CoronerZafar Siddique
Coroner areaBlack Country
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths · Suicide (from 2015)
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS  

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 

1.  Black Country Partnership, NHS Foundation Trust 
2.  Chief Executive, New Cross Hospital 

1 

CORONER 

I am Zafar Siddique, Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of the Black Country. 

2 

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On  the  5  December  2016,  I  commenced  an  investigation  into  the  death  of  the  late  Ms 
Abigail Baynham. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 27 February 
2017. The conclusion of the inquest was a short narrative conclusion of suicide. 

The cause of death was:   

1a   Hanging 

4 

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

i)  Ms Baynham had been known to Mental Health Services since 2010 with 

suicidal ideation precipitated by varying factors including illicit drug use, 
alcohol use, post-natal depression, relationship difficulties and social 
circumstances. 

ii)  She had been referred by her GP to Healthy Minds in September 2016. The 

patient did not attend two appointments with Healthy Minds, had not 
responded to further contact attempts and was therefore discharged back to 
the care of her GP. 

iii)  She was admitted to New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton on 20th 

November 2016 following an overdose of paracetamol, Ibuprofen and 
fluoxetine.  Following the overdose, the patient was assessed by a Senior 
Nurse Practitioner within the Mental Health Liaison Service (MHLS) on 22nd 
November 2016.   Although initially reluctant to engage she did cooperate 
with the assessment which did not, at the time, identify delusional thinking, 
paranoid ideation, perceptual disturbances or psychosis. This, together with 
the patient having capacity to make decisions regarding her care meant she 
was not detainable under the Mental Health Act.   

iv)  At the time, she was offered appropriate services that correlated with the 
outcome of the assessment. The patient declined further support from 
Mental Health services although the patient was made aware that she could 

1 

[IL1: PROTECT] 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 change her mind if she wishes to access support in the future and was 
given the number for Penn Hospital. 

v)  Later in the afternoon she left the hospital taking her belongings and stated 
she no longer wishes to be there.  The Police and family were notified and 
later that day she returned home with her family. 

vi)  Sadly, on the 29 November 2017 she was found deceased at her flat and 

had taken her own life. 

5 

CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In 
my  opinion  there  is  a  risk  that  future  deaths  will  occur  unless  action  is  taken.  In  the 
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows.  –  

1.  Evidence  emerged  during  the  inquest  that  the  when  Ms  Baynham  had  left 
hospital on the 22 November 2017, there was no further referral made back to 
Mental  Health  Liaison  Service.    This  may  have  triggered  a  further  assessment 
about her mental state and risk of self-harm.  

6 

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the 
power to take such action.  

1.  You  may  wish  to  consider  setting  up  a  protocol  for  referral  to  Mental  Health 

Liaison Service in this situation when a patient absconds from hospital. 

7 

YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by 29 May 2017. I, the coroner, may extend the period. 

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out 
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. 

8 

COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I  have  sent  a  copy  of  my  report  to  the  Chief  Coroner  and  to  the  following  Interested 
Persons; Family. 

I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.  

The  Chief  Coroner  may  publish  either  or  both  in  a  complete  or  redacted  or  summary 
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful 
or  of  interest.  You  may  make  representations  to  me,  the  coroner,  at  the  time  of  your 
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 

9 

 3 April 2017                                                   

Mr Zafar Siddique
Senior Coroner 
Black Country Area 

2 

[IL1: PROTECT]

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