Death of patient on suicide watch

11:39pm Thursday 26th June 2008

THE medical care of a mental health patient on “suicide watch” who collapsed and died in hospital will come under scrutiny at an inquest, a coroner has said.

Speaking at the pre-inquest review into the death of Lee Houghton, from Worcester, coroner Geraint Williams said the patient’s medical care, access to drugs, and care reviews would be looked at.

Mr Houghton was admitted to Clifton Ward of Newtown Hospital, Newtown Road, Worcester, on Friday, January 4, but died on Saturday, February 2, after collapsing on the ward.

A full three-day inquest is now due to be held at Worcestershire Coroner’s Court, Stourport-on-Severn, on Monday, October 6, where the court will hear from about a dozen witnesses, including doctors, about the circumstances leading up to and surrounding Mr Houghton’s death.

Representatives from the Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, are also due to attend.

Mr Williams, speaking to family members at the review on Tuesday, June 24, said: “I know he suffered mental health difficulties and because of that he was viewed at a risk of harming himself.

“He was on, in layman’s terms, a suicide watch. I know his care was being reviewed and the level of watch had been changed.”