NHS staff ignored woman's autism before her death, parents say

Abbigail Smith did not receive care tailored to meeting her needs, her mother, Lisa Wolff (left), said

Mental health workers had ignored a woman's autism before she took her own life, her parents said.

Abbigail Smith, 26, was moved in and out of mental health units in Essex for eight of the 10 years before she died in 2022.

An inquest into her death found a failure to recognise her autism had a "profound impact" on her care, which amounted to neglect. The health trust responsible later apologised.

"Abbi needed appropriate, tailored support that met all of her needs," said her mother Lisa Wolff, who lives in Dorset.

This story contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.

She believed Ms Smith's autism and learning difficulties were not taken seriously in her care.

"They didn't take enough time to get to know who she was as a person," Mrs Wolff told the BBC.

Her husband and Ms Smith's stepfather, Greg, added: "For her it was OK to have mental health difficulties, but it wasn't as fashionable, perhaps, to have autism.

"She kept that much quieter and she was very private with that side of her."

Ms Smith loved "adrenaline junkie" activities like rock climbing, her mother said

The couple insisted mental health staff were aware of Ms Smith's condition, but accused them of ignoring it and attempting to rescind her diagnosis.

This made it impossible for the 26-year-old to receive adequate care tailored to her needs, they claimed.

"None of the mental health units could understand her to a degree where they could offer her meaningful support, which is why she got moved around so much," Mrs Wolff added.

'Horrendous decisions'

Ms Smith took her life in a park in Braintree after being discharged from a mental health unit run by Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust (EPUT).

Her discharge came shortly after she told staff of an intention to take her own life upon release, the three-week inquest heard.

Ms Smith also made a video in which she said: "Last night I was crying and crying. Couldn't stop. Not one member of staff came in to see if I was OK."

Mr and Mrs Wolff want Ms Smith's death to be a catalyst for change

Her mother accused EPUT of making some "really horrendous decisions", as well as mixing up patient notes and accusing Ms Smith of doing things she had not done.

"We were scared for the entire last 10 years of Abbi's life," Mrs Wolff said.

"I wasn't even aware Abbi had been discharged by the clinicians, because nobody bothered to ring me and tell me.

"They decided they were going to discharge her despite some really serious self-harming attempts that Abbi had made on the ward with them."

On Ms Smith's suicide, Mr Wolff said: "It was always a case of when, not if, this was likely to happen, because Abbi being in these mental health facilities always brought out the worst in her.

"Each time she went into hospital she went back out to exactly the same circumstances and nobody ever thought why that was the case.

"Nobody ever sought to make changes to her circumstances to make things better for her."

Mrs Wolff said her daughter was a "complete kaleidoscope of colours"

The inquest into Ms Smith's death found on Friday that her treatment by EPUT amounted to neglect and her autism was never properly assessed.

Mr and Mrs Wolff said Ms Smith was a "complete kaleidoscope of colours" who loved rock climbing and horse riding.

The couple wanted her death to be a catalyst for change to ensure no other family suffered how they had.

Mr Wolff said: "All we want is for Abbi's life to mean something.

"We strongly believe that everybody has a purpose and Abbi's purpose, we hope, is to affect this lasting change."

Paul Scott, chief executive of EPUT, said: "Abbigail did not receive the care she needed and deserved and for that I would like to apologise, both personally and on behalf of the trust.

"My condolences remain with her family and all who loved her at this difficult time."

If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support in the UK are available at BBC Action Line.