Liam McGenity: Neglect contributed to mental health unit death

Peter McGenity told the inquest his son Liam "would still be alive if he had been transferred"

The neglect of a man at a mental health facility contributed to him taking his own life, an inquest jury has found.

Liam McGenity, 29, died in a unit run by Elysium Healthcare at St Mary's Hospital in Warrington on 2 March 2021.

A jury at Cheshire Coroner's Court found that if he had not been subject to a gross failure in basic medical attention, he may not have died.

Cheshire coroner Victoria Davies said it was a tragic case and changes had now been made at the hospital.

Apologising to Mr McGenity's family for the three-year wait for his inquest to conclude, she said a number of concerns about his care had been raised in court.

His father Peter had told the court his son had been living in Glastonbury when was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after suffering what was believed to be drug-induced psychosis.

He was then transferred to the Brooker Centre mental health unit in Runcorn before being moved to an NHS bed at the private St Mary's Hospital.

The jury heard he had later made a tearful call to the Runcorn unit to say he wanted to return there.

Peter McGenity told the inquest his son "would still be alive if he had been transferred".

A clinical psychologist who was involved in the 29-year-old's care also told the court the ward he was on in Warrington "was not appropriate for his care".

A statement from Elysium Healthcare said: "We continue to send our deepest condolences to Mr McGenity's family following his tragic death while in our care. We apologise unreservedly.

"In the three years following Liam's death, detailed action plans have been fully embedded to address the issues highlighted during this inquest."

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In their conclusion, the jury said one-to-one observations that Mr McGenity was supposed to be given were not carried out correctly and contributed towards his death.

They found there was a gross failure to provide basic medical attention and his death was contributed to by neglect.

Following the conclusion, Ms Davies said changes had been made to procedures at St Mary's Hospital, which included some to observation policies, and no similar incidents had taken place since.

Speaking afterwards, Mr McGenity's family said there was "no winning for us today, as nothing will bring our Liam back", but added that they were "relieved that the jury came back with the most severe conclusion left open to them".

"We had hoped that St Mary's, owned by Elysium, would approach the inquest with honesty and openness to help make real change, so this does not happen again," they said.

However they said they did not believe that had happened, which had left them "hugely disappointed... and not at all confident that we'll see any changes to their practices".

Elysium Healthcare has been contacted for a comment.

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