At the conclusion of an inquest into the death of 26-year-old Sylvan Money at Bronllys Hospital in January 2004, the coroner has announced that neglect was a factor in the suicide, and that there had been “catastrophic failings of systems and individuals”.
Sylvan Money hung herself using her dressing gown cord just five days after being admitted to Bronllys Hospital. This followed two suicide attempts in the previous weeks, and admission to the Emergency Department at Hereford General Hospital after suffering an overdose.
Following the suicide, issues raised included the breakdown in the suicide-watch rota which meant Sylvan went unobserved for a period of time, the failure to remove Sylvan’s dressing gown cord, and the failure to remove a point of ligature from which a person could hang themselves.
The two-year criminal investigation into the death determined there was insufficient evidence for individual or corporate manslaughter charges to be brought. However, the Health & Safety Executive will take up an investigation regarding possible breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act following the inquest.
An in-depth reaction will follow shortly from the family of Sylvan Money …