Parents of Bronwen Morgan call for law change to 'save lives'
The parents of a student nurse who took her own life are calling for a change in the law to ensure mental health patients are supported with decisions about their care.Bronwen Morgan, 26, who was diagnosed with a personality disorder, died after being found unresponsive at a Cardiff hotel in 2020.Bronwen's parents Jayne and Haydn said shared decision making - when healthcare professionals involve a patient's trusted relative or friend in decisions about their treatment and care - should become the law.The Welsh government said care tailored to people's needs was a key aim in its new mental health and suicide strategies.
Bronwen, a Cardiff University nursing student, was diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, or an emotionally unstable personality disorder, in 2019.An inquest into Bronwen's death heard that on 27 August 2020 she told her father she would be going to a friend's house, but she never arrived.Her phone was traced to a Premier Inn in Pentwyn, Cardiff, where she was found unresponsive.The inquest heard in the days leading up to her death, Bronwen had complained to Cardiff and Vale health board about her package of care.But the coroner found her death and the care she was receiving could not be linked.Bronwen's parents said their daughter attempted to take her life around 40 times in two years, adding that it "became the norm" for the family.
"When she did take her life, it wasn't a surprise to us because we could see it coming," said Mrs Morgan."And we were trying to tell her care team, but they'd say they couldn't share anything because of patient confidentiality."Mr Morgan said his daughter would attend reviews of her care where she would be asked how she was, and would incorrectly tell healthcare professionals she was "fine"."Which wasn't the case," said Mr Morgan."But if somebody else was there they would be able to be truthful and honest and say that's not true, you were found on a bridge, or you made an attempt on your life this week."The couple said that is why they would like to see shared decision-making become the law."By having another person there, it will help emphasise what the issues are, which the patient might find too difficult to share," said Mr Morgan."It's also another set of ears in the meeting, because the patient might be strongly medicated or find it too difficult to open up in front of a panel."Mrs Morgan said the idea seemed "a bit of a no brainer to me"."I can understand why some people would not want a family member there, but instead take a trusted friend or mental health advocate," she added.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website states shared decision-making has a range of benefits, including allowing people to discuss and share information, making sure people have a good understanding of the benefits, harms and possible outcomes of different options and empowering them to make decisions about the treatment and care that is right for them at that time. "If they're not following NICE guidelines, then let's force them to follow them and make it law," Mr Morgan. Bronwen's parents said she was also "encouraged" and "guided" by a suicide website.The coroner asked the UK and Welsh governments to make it harder to access such websites, and the site has since been blocked.
A Welsh government spokesperson said their thoughts were with Bronwen's family and loved ones."Tailoring care to people's needs is a key aim in our new mental health and wellbeing strategy and suicide prevention and self-harm strategy," they said."The NHS Executive is already leading work with health boards to transform services and improve the quality and safety of mental healthcare."
A spokesperson on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said its focus was on providing "safe, quality and compassionate mental health support" to people across Cardiff and Vale in community and inpatient settings."Mental health services at Cardiff and Vale UHB have recently committed to a co-produced family engagement project. The aim of the project which started in April 2025, is to enhance engagement with families and carers in order to improve patient safety and patient outcomes," they said.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, support is available via the BBC Action Line.
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