A devastated dad said he will never get over losing his daughter who took her own life at a North East mental health hospital.
Terri Sullivan, from Gateshead, took her own life at Roseberry Park Hospital in Middlesbrough just days after Christmas in 2019. A jury inquest was held this week to establish the circumstances around the 23-year-old's tragic early death, TeessideLive reports.
The inquest found the hospital staff had tried to give Terri the best quality of life possible. However, it was also ruled that certain policies of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, the trust that runs hospital, were not fully followed.
Read more: Eight Newcastle schools to get knife crime 'champions' after teen 'stabbing' tragedies
Terri had a long history of mental health problems, including self harming and attempting to take her own life. She died on December 29 and had tried to take her own life five times in the month before.
Despite this, hospital staff told the inquest at Teesside Coroner's Court that Terri had been doing well overall and had even managed to go out to do Christmas shopping and for a meal, which she couldn't normally do and showed signs of improvement.
Terri had been wearing tear-proof clothing earlier in the month to protect her, but a few days before her death was given back her own clothes to wear. However she then used her clothing to take her own life.
Following the inquest Terri's dad, David Sullivan, said his daughter was a happy child growing up and loved having a laugh. However, he said her problems began when she started getting bullied in her teens.
He said: "It started from there and things just went downhill."
The 47-year-old said things reached crisis point when she was about 17 and she threatened to jump off the High Level Bridge in Newcastle. He said his family, including her 10-year-old sister, Charlotte, have been left devastated by Terri's death.
He said: "I don't think I will ever get closure, I don't think there is any way to get over it. No parent should ever have to bury their child, it should be the other way around."
The inquest heard that on the day she died Terri had been in good spirits, she had watched a film with staff and other patients on the Thistle Ward and had been laughing and joking. At around 6pm she said she was going for a lie down.
Minnie Thomas, who was on duty as a care assistant at the hospital, said she went to check on Terri who was in bed with a tear-proof blanket over her, she said she spoke to her and said she would leave the door half open so she could check on her. Ms Thomas said when she went back to check on her between 6.30pm to 6.45pm she could see Terri was in bed and she had the blanket over her head, but she could see she was moving and breathing.
When the care worker went to do another check at around 7pm she found the door had been closed and locked. She and a co-worker entered the room and found Terri on the bathroom floor. Despite efforts to revive her, Terri was pronounced dead.
Teesside coroner Clare Bailey said the trust's policy on checking on patients said that the member of staff had to clearly be able to see the person's head and that there was nothing impeding their breathing. Ms Bailey asked Ms Thomas: "When you checked on Terri between 6.30pm and 6.45pm and she had the cover over her head, were you satisfied that there was nothing impeding her breathing?" Ms Thomas said: "Yes."
The coroner went on to say she made it clear that this had no impact on Terri's death and that she died after this in the bathroom. However, she would be contacting the trust to ensure staff are reminded of this policy.
Patrick Scott, managing director of the Durham, Tees Valley and Forensics care group at the trust, said: "It is incredibly upsetting when a patient dies in our care and our thoughts and condolences are with Terri's family.
"Although it was not contributory to Terri's death in 2019, following the inquest's conclusion, we will continue to improve the quality of observations on our wards to help us provide the best possible care to our patients."
For confidential support from volunteers, including for suicidal thoughts, Samaritans can be contacted free, on 116 123 or by email to jo@samaritans.org
In the North East, If U Care Share Foundation supports those bereaved by suicide and works towards suicide prevention.
Anyone experiencing mental health problems should also contact their GP for help.
Read next:
- Charges dropped over Gateshead 'hit and run' which left Emmerdale actress' grandad injured
- Former Whitley Bay footballer's heartache as second friend given motor neurone disease diagnosis
- Gateshead's MC Tazo records powerful rap tribute to teen stabbing victim Gordon Gault
- Hexham sex attacker convicted of 'horrifying' attack on teen victim
- 'It wasn't his time to go': How vile raider robbed tragic pensioner Billy Jackson of his chance at happiness
