GCHQ worker Rebecca Western-Forrest 'took her own life' inquest says

Rebecca Western-Forrest took her own life after being admitted to Wotton Lawn Hospital

A "loving and accomplished" GCHQ worker, who had been at medium risk of suicide while at an acute mental health hospital, took her own life weeks after being discharged, an inquest has found.

Rebecca Western-Forrest, from Cheltenham, was admitted to Wotton Lawn Hospital in Gloucester on 31 January, 2022.

Gloucestershire Coroner's Court heard she had felt "clinically depressed" but was not diagnosed as such.

Instead, she was treated for anxiety.

Mrs Western-Forrest later died on 25 March 25 at her home.

During evidence at the inquest, Doctor Ryan Noronha, a locum who was working at Wotton Lawn in February 2022, said there had been no change in her clinical presentation two weeks into her admittance.

He also told the court she began trial periods of overnight leave and was allowed to spend some nights at home during February.

Rebecca Western-Forrest's husband told the inquest she was 'absolutely terrified' of returning to Wotton Lawn

Ms Western-Forrest remained as a voluntary patient throughout and doctors said there were no concerns about her level of capacity during her admission.

She was deemed to be at medium risk of suicide when arrangements were made for her to be discharged in a gradual manner and her referral was sent to the community health team on 14 February ahead of the expectation that she would be discharged on March 3.

However, the court heard her risk was later deemed to be low and she was discharged on 24 February and received her first visit from her occupational health therapist David Roberts the next day.

Mr Roberts said Mrs Western-Forrest was referred to recovery and she would require support in the community, education about anxiety and stress, and support to engage in daily routine and employment support in the longer term.

"She was very upset and anxious. She was distressed about being at home. It was the discharge from the hospital that increased her anxiety," he said.

"She said she preferred to have people around all the time. She said she had felt very anxious about being admitted as well."

Matthew Forrest, Mrs Western-Forrest's widower, told the court she tried to kill herself the weekend of 27 February, just days after she was discharged from Wotton Lawn.

He said she was "absolutely terrified" of going back there.

Dr Jonathan Haynes, deputy medical director for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, told the court that Mrs Western-Forrest's mental health had previously been affected by the national lockdown.

He said there were still some Covid restrictions in Wotton Lawn but his understanding was they did not affect her substantially.

Dr Haynes also said stress factors after the traumatic birth of her twins were a significant contributory factor.

On ruling her death as a suicide, the senior coroner, Katy Skerrett, said that overall she was satisfied that the care given during her admission at Wotton Lawn as well as the care she received after her discharge was satisfactory.

Mrs Skerrett added: "Overall, she received appropriate treatment and there were many examples of good practice."

The GCHQ worker and mum-of-two was described as articulate and humorous

But in a statement read to the court by the coroner, Mrs Western-Forrest's mother disagreed and was critical of Wotton Lawn Hospital.

"Despite the coroner's findings, we strongly feel that her poor quality of treatment and not quantity contributed to her suicide only four weeks after her discharge as a voluntary patient at Wotton Lawn.

"During the inquest, suicide ideation was mentioned on countless occasions with specified methods of achieving this, but neither the NHS at the time or the senior coroner seem interested unless there was evidence of previous attempts or self harm."

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust said they were deeply saddened by the tragic incident and offered their sincere condolences to Mrs Western-Forrest's family.

"We have carried out a thorough investigation and will use the findings from that investigation as well as the Inquest findings to ensure that any learning is embedded into practice to help prevent similar circumstances occurring in the future," they added.

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