Gross Negligence Manslaughter in Mental Health Care

An inquest concluded that a 19-year-old woman's death was caused by the "gross negligence manslaughter" of an agency healthcare assistant. Louise Furlong died on September 12, 2022, at Queen's Medical Centre after being found unresponsive at Highbury Hospital the previous day.

The jury heard that healthcare assistant Sylvia Quaye-Mensah failed to conduct scheduled welfare checks and subsequently falsified records. Furlong, who had a history of self-harm and a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder, had been transferred to Highbury Hospital on September 7, 2022. The inquest jury found no clinical rationale for this transfer and noted there was no care plan or formal handover.

While staff at Highbury Hospital were initially found to have managed Furlong's risks effectively, the jury determined that the failure to conduct hourly 10-minute welfare checks after 6:00 PM, and the falsification of these records, "probably more than minimally contributed" to her death. Furlong was last seen alive at 6:34 PM and found on the bathroom floor with a ligature around her neck at 7:09 PM. CPR was initiated, but she later died.

Following the inquest, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust stated they accepted the findings and apologized for the substandard care. The trust affirmed their commitment to improving care standards and patient involvement. Louise's mother expressed that her daughter was failed and hoped lessons would be learned to prevent future tragedies.