Teen should have been cared for in hospital - mum

Finn Hall, from Keighley, took his own life in November 2022 aged 16

The mother of a 16-year-old boy who took his own life has said he should have been provided with 24-hour hospital care before his death.

Finn Hall died in November 2022 having made several previous attempts to kill himself, an inquest heard.

Giving evidence, his mother, Hannah Boothroyd said Bradford District Care NHS Trust should have recommended her son was admitted to hospital but instead said his family should care for him.

A representative from the trust told the hearing they did not have enough evidence to warrant recommending such action.

'Chronic low mood'

Bradford Coroner's Court was told Finn had experienced chronic low mood and emotional dysregulation in the years leading up to his death.

It was said he had begun self harming in Year 7 at school and had had suicidal thoughts from Year 9 onwards.

His family believe he attempted to take his own life at least nine times.

The court heard how in 2022, Finn had told his family it was going to be "the best Christmas ever" because it was "going to be his last" and had bought his family gifts to remember him by.

His family notified the NHS trust's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) of his multiple attempts on his life, but his mother said she felt not enough help was provided.

"When Finn needed support, CAMHS did nothing to prevent things getting worse," Ms Boothroyd told the inquest.

A care plan drawn up by CAMHS recommended he should be cared for at home by his family. He was also given medication and partnered with a key worker.

Ms Boothroyd, who said she had three other children with their own specific care need, said: "CAMHS was supposed to be the professionals but all they did was tell me to stay with Finn 24-hours a day, but also give him privacy."

She added: "I was a single parent... how was I supposed to look after Finn 24-hours a day?"

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Finn's mum Hannah does not believe enough was done to help her son

Giving evidence, Dr Elizabeth Green, a psychiatrist at the trust, said Finn "absolutely" had a mental disorder but that he could not have been diagnosed with a personality disorder because his personality would not be fully developed at his age.

She said she did not receive enough evidence to recommend that Finn should be admitted into hospital full-time.

"We don't want to detain people in hospitals when they may feel better within 24 or 48 hours or so," she told the hearing.

She added that there was said "a severe shortage of beds nationally" for patients and "that's why it is such a careful decision that we make".

The hearing continues.

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