Trust to review year-long waiters after woman’s death

A mental health trust will review patients not seen by its services for more than a year after a woman died having waited 13 months for a follow-up appointment. 

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust is set to scrutinise patient records of all those who have not been seen by trust staff in more than 12 months, according to a coroner’s report.

Assistant coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, Adam Hodson, said the review was taking place in a prevention of future deaths report issued after the death of Juliette Sewell.

Ms Sewell was reported missing on Valentine’s Day this year and was found dead two days later.

The 36-year-old had a history of mental illness since 2010 and had been under the care of BSMHFT and her GP.

At the time of her death on 16 February, Ms Sewell had been awaiting a follow-up appointment with BSMHFT’s mental health team since January 2023, which had been delayed due to staffing shortages.

Although the coroner said it was unlikely her death could have been prevented, he felt there was a risk of future deaths and said an incident review carried out by the trust after Ms Sewell’s death had mentioned a wider investigation.

He said the trust had “confirmed that a review of Rio records was being undertaken of those who have not been seen in more than 12 months, with actions to be identified”.

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Source: HSJ, 21 August 2024