Lytham teenager let down by mental health services - family

Bella Greer, 14, was kind, loving and generous, her grandmother told the inquest

A teenager who took her own life was "let down" by mental health services, her family has claimed.

Bella Greer, 14, was found unresponsive by her mum in her bedroom in Lytham, Lancashire in October last year.

An inquest into her death heard there was a delay in assessing Bella after she had earlier taken a drugs overdose.

But the assistant coroner found "no indication" Bella's mental health worsened in that time and could not say her death would have been prevented.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) said patient safety was its "utmost priority" and lessons would be learned from Bella's death.

Blackpool Coroners Court was told the teenager had previously taken a drugs overdose on 11 September and was admitted to hospital.

Her GP sent a referral to LSCft but the email went to a decommissioned address, which was still being checked but there were staffing issues.

Catherine Watts, nurse manager told the court: "One person left and another was off sick. It was an oversight.

"It would have been ordinarily checked."

The family made a self referral to West Lancashire Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) on 14 September.

That was only picked up on the 3 October.

The court heard Bella had left a note, which read: "I am sorry for doing this. I know I have other options but none of them work."

The teenager had returned from school happy but had her phone and tablet confiscated after it emerged she had minor issues at school that day, the inquest was told.

'Communication issues'

The court heard she had an argument with another pupil but a police investigation, which examined her social media messages, found there was nothing to suggest she was being systemically bullied.

Bella's grandmother Dianne Harrop wept as she told the inquest: "Bella was a really sweet girl - kind and loving and so generous.

"The family were let down by some of the services.

"She had been moved from two schools because of bullying. It didn't help.

"It is a tragedy but I do feel they were let down."

The assistant coroner ruled Bella Greer's death was suicide

Assistant Coroner Louise Rae said the teenager did not have a significant history of mental health problems and was not under the influence of alcohol or substances.

"There were no immediate mental health concerns... no indication her mental heath deteriorated during a delay in assessing her," she said, adding that she could not say her death would have been prevented.

"Bella expressed an intention and went on to do so. Suicide is the most appropriate conclusion in this case," she ruled.

After the inquest the family said they were disappointed by the findings and they believed if the teenager had been seen by a mental health team before her death, she would still be with them.

Ursula Martin from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said she fully acknowledged the conclusion and extended condolences to Bella's family.

"The safety of those in our care is our utmost priority and the death of any patient while under any of our services will always be regrettable," she said.

Following Bella's death, an investigation found triage and communication issues between teams and the trust had addressed those through training, she added.

"We take the findings very seriously, they offer us an opportunity to learn lessons so we can endeavour to do everything to try to prevent similar issues occurring."

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