A hospital and one worker were found at fault for not keeping a young woman safe in a mental health unit.
In 2015, Alice was in Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford. Before she died, she tried to end her life with plastic or trash bags 18 times, mostly getting them from the same group toilet, the court found out.
The hospital knew about the danger of having trash bags in rooms and took them out. But, even with her family's warnings, the bags were still in the group toilet, which wasn't locked.
At the trial, it was said that Alice could still hurt herself, and no one wrote it down or looked into it well. The court also was told that Aninakwa had problems with talking, working fast, and leading. He was on a plan to get better for three years, until the end of 2014. Also, many staff from outside came and went, the court heard.
Alice's mom, Jane Figueiredo, told of the deep hurt she felt when she learned of her daughter's death. She said it was the time when "your whole life shifts forever." Her family likes to think of her as smart, artistic, into music, and funny—a woman full of life. "She had such a sharp and funny way with words," Mrs. Figueiredo said. "She could make me laugh more than anyone else. I miss that a lot."
Since her teen years, Alice had gone through tough times with deep sadness and had also fought an eating issue. She went to the hospital a few times, and her health got better after each stay, her family explained. Her stepdad, Max Figueiredo, said managing her health was key and that they "trusted doctors to choose well."
Mrs. Figueiredo shared that she had often voiced worries about the care Alice received at the hospital to Mr. Aninakwa, both by talking and in notes. After Alice died, getting details on what went wrong was hard for them. People who fight for better mental health care think Alice's story shows how bad the care is for many with mental health issues. Lucy Schonegevel, from the charity Rethink, says that it is sad proof that the mental health system is not good enough yet for our time, and "people hope to be cared for and kept safe" in a care home. But she knows about many times when people did not get the help they needed.
Alice's family thinks any missteps in cases like hers must be clear if things are to get better in mental health care. They say they will keep pushing for this. "It's not about revenge," Mr. Figueiredo says. "It's about justice, truth, and being held responsible."
The trust did not give good mental health care and did not keep patients safe from harm, like using bin liners for self-harm on a tough psychiatric ward.
Akinawa did not care enough for the health and safety of others on his watch, the patients. He did not take away bin bags that could be used for self-harm. He also did not note or deal with signs of self-harm.