October 26th 2024.
Shannara Donnelly, a 22-year-old woman, was under the care and supervision of medical staff at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, north London. Due to her history of self-harm, she was deemed at risk and was supposed to be monitored at all times. However, a tragic incident occurred where Shannara was left unattended for over an hour, lying on the floor of her room, before being discovered by hospital staff.
The inquest, taking place at George Meehan House in Wood Green, heard that Shannara had been struggling with her mental health and had previously reported experiencing sexual abuse. She also had a history of alcohol abuse and would sometimes hear "voices" in her head. Her mother, Kerry Donnelly, shared that Shannara had been particularly struggling during the lockdown period and had recently lost three close family members before her passing.
Kerry described her daughter's pain as "unbearable" and explained that Shannara had been seeking help and trying to find a safe place to stay. Unfortunately, she was admitted to the Chase Farm Hospital, despite a note on her health documents stating that she should not be sent there, due to a previous incident. This raised concerns about the hospital's admission process and the adequacy of their risk assessment.
The court was also informed that necessary safety checks were not carried out by the nursing staff at the unit, which was also housing another patient at the time. Moreover, the CCTV observations, which were used to monitor Shannara, were found to be an inadequate form of observation. It was also revealed that the staff on duty were not properly trained in life support, and there were issues with the oxygen tanks available at the unit.
CCTV footage from the day of Shannara's death was played for the jurors, showing staff members monitoring her through cameras and small windows on the door. However, they did not carry out the required observations, as stated in her level of care. The managing director of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, Mark Pritchard, offered his sincere condolences to Shannara's family and acknowledged the shortcomings in her care.
The court also heard admissions from the Trust, stating that Jade "shouldn't have been sent" to Chase Farm Hospital and that her risk assessment was inadequate. The Trust's policy guidelines for patients under Level Three care, which Shannara was under, clearly stated that they should be within sight at all times and that CCTV observation should not be used in place of engagement and personal observation.
When questioned about the effectiveness of Shannara's care, Mr. Pritchard admitted that the staff did not provide Level Three observations as required. Jane Basemera, Shannara's allocated nurse on the day of her death, also testified that if she had been on Level Four observations, where the patient is within arm's length of the staff, Shannara's life could have been saved. Ms. Basemera also spoke of staffing issues at the unit and how she had not been informed about Shannara's collapse, despite being aware that she was on the floor.
The inquest continues, and Shannara's family seeks answers and justice for their daughter's untimely passing. For those in need of support, the Samaritans hotline is available 24/7, and PAPYRUS offers a helpline specifically for young people and those concerned about them. Let us all remember Shannara, known to her family as Jade, and keep her memories deep-rooted in our hearts forever.
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