Man dies 'after not getting mental health support'

A prevention of future deaths report was written following Danny Anderson's suicide

A man died by suicide after "receiving absolutely no care" from the mental health services looking after him, a coroner said.

Danny Anderson, who died aged 35, was 15 when his chronic mental health difficulties first started to develop and had a history of self-harm.

In a prevention of future deaths report, Nadia Presaud, area coroner for East London, said Mr Anderson died as a result of suicide, contributed to by neglect.

Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said: “I am sorry for the mistakes that were made in caring for Danny."

The report said: "Danny took his own life, whilst suffering from a mental illness, and whilst receiving absolutely no care from the mental health services.

"Danny's death was contributed to by cumulative failures, amounting to a gross failure, to provide mental health care to him".

The report said it was likely that Mr Anderson was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

'Grossly inadequate'

Mr Anderson had been in and out of hospital in 2022 and was found dead in his room by paramedics on 30 March 2023.

The report states that he was discharged from hospital on 14 December 2022 and put into "grossly inadequate hotel accommodation."

There was no comprehensive assessment of risk to discharge and a safety plan had not been put in place for him, the report said.

The 35 year old had stated his plans to stop taking his anti-psychotic medication before he was discharged from hospital, but no plan was put in place to address the associated risks.

The coroner said: "The statement 'Danny does not present with any suicidal ideation or self-harming behaviour' was copied and pasted multiple times throughout the risk assessment template on 14 December 2022."

Mr Scott added that EPUT was "committed" to providing the right care at the right time and ensuring support was in place for patients after being discharged.

“We are carefully reviewing the coroner’s findings and will respond in due course.”

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