Care plan for County Durham teen Emily Moore 'inadequate'

Emily Moore died days after her 18th birthday at Lanchester Road Hospital in February 2020

A mental health trust's care plan for a teenager who took her own life was "inadequate", a court has heard.

Emily Moore from Shildon, County Durham, died days after her 18th birthday at Lanchester Road Hospital in February 2020.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust is accused of breaching the Health and Social Care Act by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

It has denied any failings in care at a hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

The court heard Miss Moore had a history of self-harm and was admitted to the hospital at short notice because there was a lack of other suitable community facilities.

'Poor quality' plan

Jason Pitter KC, representing the CQC, told the court: "The trust's care and intervention plan for Emily was inadequate.

"It did not guide staff how to care for her."

He said if a comprehensive plan was in place the incident which led to her death "may not have occurred".

He added the care plan "was of poor quality and did not guide staff in how to manage Emily's risk".

Emily Moore had moved to Lanchester Road Hospital shortly before her death

The hearing also heard the CQC had raised concerns over the recording of observations.

Mr Pitter said they were "deficient in terms of level and frequency".

'Adequate and reasonable'

Paul Greaney KC, representing the trust, said its experts would show how her care was "thoughtful, personalised and comprehensive".

He said the trust accepted the intervention plan, like any care plan, could have been improved, but it was "adequate and reasonable".

He added that in the context of the overall documentation and the quality of Miss Moore's care, any inadequacies in the intervention plan did not render her care and treatment "unsafe".

At a separate hearing last year relating to two other patients who took their own lives, the trust admitted failures in how it cared for them.

Christie Harnett, 17, and an unnamed woman, were being treated at hospitals run by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust in Middlesbrough.

Mr Greaney KC said he understood "how difficult a time this must be for all those close to Emily".

The trial will continue on Tuesday and is expected to last all week.