Patient left A&E and took own life - inquest

Matty Sheldrick moved to Hove with rescue dog Lola, hoping for a happy life, the inquest heard

A 29-year-old patient took their own life outside a hospital after reaching out for "help that did not appear to exist", an inquest has heard.

Matty Sheldrick's mother, Shelagh Sheldrick, said her child, who was autistic and had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), felt "dismissed, ignored and lied to" by mental health workers.

The hearing was told Matty left A&E and self-inflicted injuries in the grounds of Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital on 4 November and died on 22 November 2022.

Horsham Coroner's Court heard Matty had "lost all hope".

'Beyond heartbroken'

Ms Sheldrick said Matty, originally from Surrey, moved to Hove in November 2021 with rescue dog Lola, hoping for a happy and productive life, with the right support.

The inquest heard Matty was admitted to a short stay ward for three weeks in September 2022 with declining mental health and suicidal thoughts.

On the ward, Matty was yelled at, threatened with discharge when feeling unsafe, and held down and sedated when having a meltdown, Ms Sheldrick said.

She said Matty distrusted mental health professions working as part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and spoke fondly of staff working for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, adding: "All that was required was kindness and compassion."

She said: "The actions and non-actions of both trusts contributed to Matty's decline in mental health and his death."

Describing the family as "beyond heartbroken", she said Matty was a "kind, bright, creative, sensitive, gentle soul", who performed spoken word and flooded social media with artwork.

Matty, a trans person who had begun illustrating for the Clare Project, a support group for trans and non-binary people, had said: "I really feel I have found my people here", the inquest heard.

Shelagh Sheldrick described Matty as a "kind, bright, creative, sensitive, gentle soul"

On 2 November, Matty returned to hospital and was assessed under the Mental Health Act but not detained, the inquest heard.

Dr Robert Sparks, who carried out the assessment, said it was well-known that hospital environments such as short stay wards could lead to a deterioration in mental health, adding: "Every attempt should be made not to have people in hospital."

He said with hindsight, he would have detained Matty.

Matty's GP, Dr Sam Hall, from WellBN, told the inquest there was a "massive gap" in mental health crisis provision.

Asked about describing Matty as a vulnerable person, Dr Hall said: "I would say that about anybody that is autistic, ADHD and trans."

He said: "Someone like Matty needs constant companionship to be able to navigate the world."

NHS Sussex is expected to comment at the conclusion of the inquest.

The inquest continues.