CCTV footage shows nurses at a secure psychiatric unit doing each other’s hair, vaping and scrolling on their phones while a struggling young patient prepared to take his own life.
Brendan McFarlane, 20, known as Bren, died less than 24 hours after being admitted to The Harbour, a 154-bed mental health hospital in Blackpool, in October last year.
He should have been on constant observations but over the one-hour period before he was found unresponsive, the nurses watched him for less than three minutes, an inquest heard.
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Last month, a jury ruled following a hearing that his death at the hospital, run by the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, was misadventure, contributed to by neglect.
One of the most distressing aspects of the evidence placed before the jurors was a series of CCTV clips which showed three employees in the nurses’ station just inches away from where Bren sat on his bed and created an item he then used to take his own life.
Part of the footage has now been released by the coroner, LancsLive reports. During it, one nurse can be seen doing a colleague’s hair while another plays on her phone. All three nurses in the footage can then be seen scrolling on their phones in tandem, with one sat on her desk cross-legged vaping on an e-cigarette.
Bren’s mum Gail broke down in tears when she watched, for the first time, staff tasked with keeping her son safe ignore him as he took his own life.
The jury said: “Brendan McFarlane died by misadventure contributed to by neglect. We say that on the balance of probabilities the care delivery issues more than minimally, trivially or negligibly caused or contributed to the death of Bren.”
In their conclusions, jurors also highlighted the various failings which gave Bren the opportunity to take his own life. These included the jury highlighting how “the staff were distracted from their duties and were not exhibiting professional standards of behaviour”.
Blackpool’s Senior Coroner Alan Wilson agreed to release part of the footage so it could be shown to the public in order to illustrate the level of neglect Bren suffered. The footage does not include CCTV from inside Bren’s room and only shows the nurses’ station, with the identity of the nurses, who have not been named, blurred.
Bren had waited three weeks for a bed on a mental health unit to become available after a psychiatrist had requested an urgent placement at a ‘place of safety’ last October. When Bren, who had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts, was assessed by the psychiatrist at his home in Accrington the doctor deemed that he was a “risk to himself”.
When a bed became available, on October 24 last year, Bren was admitted to The Harbour, which provides care and treatment for adults who cannot be safely treated at home. Less than 24 hours later Bren, 20, had taken his own life.
Jurors heard that although Bren’s personal belongings had been recorded, on his admission he had managed to keep an item which was not logged. For a period of 20 minutes, during which no observations of Bren were made, he used this item to create another which he later used in his en-suite bathroom to take his own life.
The CCTV footage shows that over a one-hour period, between 9.30am and 10.29am when Bren was found unresponsive, staff spent two minutes and 54 seconds observing him. The footage shows one nurse sitting at a desk and scrolling through her phone while another nurse spends several minutes doing her colleague’s hair.
At 10.16am, Bren went into his bathroom and was found there, unresponsive, at 10.29am. He was resuscitated and taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but treatment was withdrawn when doctors discovered he had suffered a brain stem death due to a lack of oxygen. Bren, who died on October 29, was posthumously awarded the Order of St John which honours donors and their families who donate their organs to save and improve the lives of others.
During the inquest, the jury heard that there had been 14 previous suicide attempts, while Bren was detained under the Mental Health Act, including 13 involving the same method which led to his death. At least two were in a bathroom setting – the room where Bren was found unresponsive on October 25 – and several involved the exact same method and materials he used before his death but the nurse who oversaw his admission to The Harbour had not considered that this history increased the risk of suicide.
The nurses’ station at The Harbour had a window to allow staff to observe Bren but the privacy film had been put on the wrong way round, the inquest heard. This effectively allowed Bren to see when staff were checking on him. Three members of staff were in the observation room when Bren created an item he later used to take his own life.
Chris Oliver, Chief Executive for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said: “I extend my personal condolences on behalf of the Trust to Bren’s family for their loss and our thoughts remain with his family and friends.
“Following Bren’s death, we undertook a comprehensive investigation, which identified failings in the delivery of our care, including environmental and estate issues. The failings also included the conduct of a number of colleagues which fell below the professional standards that we expect and that the majority of our colleagues display every day.
“We updated HM Coroner and the family at Bren’s inquest on the actions that we have taken following our investigation, which has included taking appropriate action relating to staff conduct. I wish to offer my unreserved apologies to Bren’s family on behalf of Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.”
Helplines and websites
Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected] , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.
For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk
CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They’re open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.
Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk
Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/
Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org
For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
