Home / Health / Mental Health Unit Neglect Led to Patient's Death
Mental Health Unit Neglect Led to Patient's Death
2 May
Summary
- A patient died by suicide after neglect at a specialist mental health unit.
- The inquest found an absence of basic care and a lack of proper planning.
- The NHS trust apologised for not assessing risk or involving the family adequately.
A patient died by suicide due to neglect at a specialist mental health unit, an inquest has revealed. Amy Chapman, 35, passed away on March 27, 2025, while under the care of the Haven Unit at Millview Hospital in Brighton.
Assistant coroner Nick Armstrong KC stated there was an "absence of basic care" and a significant lack of proper planning regarding Chapman's potential to leave the unit. She was permitted to leave twice on the day of her death by different nurses, neither of whom contacted her family as notes suggested she should only go out with them. These decisions were not properly recorded, which the coroner deemed a "gross failure of basic care."
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Millview Hospital, has apologised for not fully assessing Amy's risk or adequately involving her family. The trust acknowledged making improvements since her death, including a new care model for Haven patients and ongoing efforts to better involve families and carers. Chapman's family has called for accountability and meaningful change to prevent future tragedies.
