NHS trust and worker deny causing death of woman

Alice Figueiredo died in 2015

A hospital worker and an NHS trust have both denied causing the death of a 22-year-old mental health patient after she allegedly gained access to items used in 18 earlier attempts to take her own life.

Benjamin Aninakwa, 52, appeared at the Old Bailey to plead not guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence after Alice Figueiredo died at Goodmayes Hospital, north-east London, in 2015.

A second charge accuses him of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients on Hepworth Ward, which he also denied.

He appeared alongside representatives of North East London NHS Foundation Trust who entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the trust to charges of corporate manslaughter and an offence of failing to ensure the health and safety of non-employees.

According to the charges, ward manager Mr Aninakwa, of Grays, is accused of failing to take reasonable steps to remove a "means of suicide" or provide an "adequate level of care and supervision" for Ms Figueiredo.

Meanwhile the trust is accused of causing the death of Ms Figueiredo by "gross breach of its duty of care".

It is alleged the trust failed to remove items from detained patients on an acute psychiatric ward in Redbridge, permitting them to be accessible to Ms Figueiredo on the ward where she was then detained.

It also allegedly failed to remove the items from use by her, after being used to attempt to take her own life on 18 previous occasions.

The alleged attempts were recorded on hospital notes and in other hospital records and discussed regularly at relevant hospital meetings, according to the indictment.

Judge Richard Marks KC set a trial date of 2 October, set to last nine weeks at the Old Bailey.

Mr Aninakwa remains on bail ahead of a preparatory hearing on 25 June.