The tragic death of a 32-year-old woman could have been prevented had NHS staff decided to keep her in hospital, her heartbroken family claims. Lowri Miller, described as a " bubbly, happy girl who made friends everywhere she went", was admitted to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant on February 4, 2020, due to her history of mental ill-health and risk of overdosing.
An inquest into her death head that while she was in hospital Lowri had told a social worker that she intended to take her own life and had specifically referenced the fact that medication had been stored at a friend's house. The social worker expressed concern that Lowri would take an overdose if discharged.
The inquest heard that despite this Lowri was discharged the next day without hospital staff alerting her family. After she had left her family was contacted but despite several attempts they could not reach her.
Read more: 'Our daughter would still be alive if her care hadn't been taken away without warning'
Later that day Lowri responded to their messages stating that she wanted to take her own life. The police were informed and the family provided a list of three places where she may be staying. But the properties were not checked until the following morning at which point Lowri was found dead on February 8, 2020.
Lowri's mother, Sue Miller, and the rest of her family said they had significant concerns around the care and treatment that she had received during her final days and in particular over the decision to discharge her from hospital without warning her family despite the risk she presented to herself. "Lowri was a bubbly, happy girl who made friends everywhere she went. She loved animals, her friends, and her family. She was in turn much-loved," said Sue. "She was committed to looking after vulnerable people. She worked for Sue Ryder and later for Peabody in London as a support worker, helping people with housing.
"The impact that Lowri made could be seen at her funeral in Wales, which was attended by a coach-load of clients, colleagues and friends from London. Peabody are opening a new building next month, which will be named after her. Lowri was also, herself, immensely vulnerable. She had struggled with her mental health for many years requiring recurrent hospital admissions. In her last months Lowri was in crisis with 24 separate incidents of overdose or self-harm or suicidal thoughts in less than five months.
"This week we have been enormously saddened to hear of failings during Lowri's final admission to hospital. She told her social worker that she had a clear plan to end her life and that she had a 'stash' of medication at a friend's house. Lowri's social worker had never seen her so hopeless or adamant about wanting to die.
"The social worker was uncomfortable with the decision to discharge Lowri because she felt that Lowri would overdose on discharge. This information did not reach clinical staff and Lowri was discharged the next day. We have, however, welcomed evidence of changes in policy in the mental health team and at the health board. We hope that these changes may prevent another family from suffering the same loss that we have."
Newport solicitors Harding Evans represented the family at the inquest hearing alongside barrister Chris Johnson of Doughty Street Chambers. Partner Craig Court, who heads up Harding Evans' actions against public authorities team, said afterwards: "The circumstances surrounding Lowri's death were tragic but we still believe that this devastating series of events could have been prevented.
"We feel that failures relating to basic standards of care and treatment are what ultimately resulted in Lowri's life ending prematurely. We hope that lessons can be learned and that measures can be introduced to ensure situations like these are dealt with correctly in the future."
The death of Lowri, from Beddau, was ruled as misadventure by coroner Graeme Hughes at Pontypridd Coroner's Court on Friday, March 25. He said that while Lowri died after taking a mixture of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs he could never have been satisfied she meant to take her own life. He added that Lowri had flirted with the concept and risk of death but on each occasion had pulled back from it. In his conclusion the coroner said Lowri was found to have died from a "sudden cardiac event" likely precipitated by the "interaction of indicated and non-indicated medication at therapeutic levels".
In response a spokeswoman for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: "While we cannot comment on the circumstances of individual cases our thoughts remain with Ms Miller's family and we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to them at this difficult time."
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