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Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Woman, 27, was 'excited for future' before she died in tragic accident
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT: Emily Miller, 27, was under the care of a home-based treatment team from Greater Manchester Mental Health at the time of her death An "incredible, kind and beautiful" young woman who was "excited for the future" tragically took her own life by accident, an inquest has determined. Emily Miller, 27, was discovered at her residence on Clyde Road in Didsbury on October 23, 2023. Known affectionately as Ems or Emmie to her loved ones, the court was informed that she had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), which often led to mood swings and self-harm. As a mental health practitioner herself, she was under the care of a home-based treatment team from Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH), represented at the inquest by Nicola Flood. However, concerns were raised by her family about potential shortcomings in her care under the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust. Despite these concerns, area coroner Zak Golombeck concluded on Wednesday, May 21 that her care had been "appropriate and reasonable", with "no clinical reason to escalate her care" in the days leading up to her passing. Testifying on Tuesday, May 20, consultant psychiatrist Dr Faisal Farid acknowledged that Emily had been self-harming most days. However, he added that she viewed it as a means of "control" and "managing her stress", rather than an attempt to end her life. Dr Farid informed the court that she had previously been admitted to hospital twice for brief inpatient stays, but these were deemed "detrimental" to her progress. He elaborated that she had been given the option of a voluntary inpatient stay on October 16 – just seven days before her death – but she declined, opting to continue with visits from the home-based treatment team (HBTT) until her death. The court was advised that she had been categorised as "red zone," signifying her case was under daily review and she often engaged with healthcare professionals. On the tragic day she died, Dr Farid conveyed to the court that Emily expressed a desire to be 'stepped down' from the HBTT as she believed she was "taking up other people's time". "It wasn't because she felt the treatment wasn't working or wasn't helping her," he clarified. "It was about being stepped down, not discharged. We were monitoring her risk and her engagement with services." He noted that Emily had been actively "making an effort" and "engaging" with the team leading up to her death. He interpreted the "ambivalence" she occasionally exhibited towards her own life and her fluctuating attitudes towards therapy as "typical" for someone dealing with EUPD's emotional instability. Subsequently, Lucy Swanson, a specialist in mental health and a social worker, provided evidence to the court. She detailed performing the final formal risk assessment for Emily on October 10, after learning Emily had acquired means to potentially harm herself. Ms Swanson recounted to the court her "good therapeutic relationship" with Emily and shared how she was "surprised" and "upset" upon hearing of Emily's passing. Nicola Conoma, another mental health practitioner who worked closely with Emily, also told the inquest of her "shock" and "devastation" at the news of Emily's death. She recalled her last visit to Emily's home on October 14, where Emily had indicated she hadn't self-harmed in 'a couple of days'. Ms Conoma reflected on Emily's discussions about future events. "Her sister's birthday, her brother's wedding, their plans to go and see Taylor Swift in concert - lots of things. There were times when she was hopeful for the future. She had a place at uni for the following year. I think it was her wish to be alive." Michelle Brown, representing the Miller family, suggested that Emily's purchase of items for self-harm signalled an "escalation" of risk, noting that by October 19, Emily had been self-harming 'daily'. Ms Conoma responded: "We did offer hospital admission, but she was quite clear she did not want to go into hospital. I did not feel use of the Mental Health Act would be appropriate." At Manchester Coroner's Court, Emily's sister Jessica painted a picture of her as "magnificent", "vibrant" and possessing a "calming aura" that made her "great at her job", reports the Manchester Evening News. She said: "I don't know how to find the words to get across the true essence of Ems or how much I absolutely adore her. I want her to be more than a name, more than a statistic, because although her ending was so tragic, she was not. When someone dies by mental health, they're defined by their death. But she was and is so much more than that. I love my baby sis with every fibre of my being and I will never forgive myself for not doing my job as her big sister and protecting her. "Em touched so many hearts, I miss laughing with her, I miss sitting in her presence, I crave it all the time. I miss our 4 hour long phone calls, our walks, our long voice notes, our little adventures – everything about her. As beautiful as the thought is that she's always with me, it doesn't bring me comfort yet because she should be here." Adding to her emotional address, she said: "Please look at her and know that she was the most incredible, kind, beautiful [person]. Her body may not be here anymore but her soul is in every person she ever loved. I'll never find the words to describe how heart wrenching this loss is, how part of me died that day too. She's taken part of my soul with her but that's okay, she can keep it until I get there." The coroner confirmed that the cause of death was determined to be hanging. He provided a summary of Emily's treatment journey, noting her consistent refusal of multiple offers for hospitalisation. He verified that a meeting took place on October 19 regarding Emily's care plan. She was to remain in the red zone with a planned transition from home-based treatment to the Community Mental Health Team "in a safe manner". Mr Golombeck remarke: "Emily continued to self-harm on a daily basis. There was no meaningful escalation in her risk. She was not detainable. On the 23rd, another offer of voluntary admission was extended, but this did not imply that involuntary admission was the subsequent step. I find that the care provided was appropriate and reasonable. There was no clinical justification to escalate her care." The coroner concluded with a verdict of misadventure – an accidental death resulting from a voluntarily taken risk – rather than suicide. "I am not satisfied on the balance of probability that she intended to take her own life. There was no clear expression of intent, no note or communication to her family; and there was some evidence of her future planning. "I conclude that she did not intend to cause her own death. Her death resulted from a deliberate human act, with some awareness of the risks involved, which unexpectedly went awry." The Mirror has reached out to GMMH for their response.
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Nurse stole £72,000 claiming he worked fake shifts at NHS mental health unit
Dean Armitage 'abused his position' after investigators determined he had not been present for nearly 200 night shifts he claimed at the height of the Covid pandemic An NHS nurse stole tens of thousands of pounds from a mental health unit after "abusing his position" and claiming to have worked hundreds of extra shifts. Dean Armitage worked as a ward manager at an unnamed facility in Manchester run by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH). The 33-year-old was given access to the trust's shift booking system, allowing him to create, assign and authorise additional shifts, but "abused his position" to backdate overtime and pocket additional payments. Armitage has now been sentenced to more than a year behind bars after his ill-gotten gains were discovered. The Manchester Evening News reports that Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday that Armitage started abusing his role at the height of the Covid pandemic in April 2020, when he entered backdated shifts into the NHS staff bank. The bank allows employees to pick up extra shifts on top of contracted hours, enabling them to help cover potential staff shortages. A British Medical Association (BMA) report released in 2024 found that, at the time, working overtime had "become the norm" to plug staffing gaps that had existed long before the pandemic took hold. But prosecutors said Armitage paid for night shifts he never worked, with the higher rate entries placed after the fact not appearing on rotas, and not arousing suspicion. He continued to claim for these shifts until October 2021 and claimed £76,632.72 and holiday pay for 185 fraudulently claimed shifts, according to the NHSCFA. Irregularities not spotted until the following month, when the nurse, from Armitage, Bradford West, was suspended as the trust's Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) investigated. He was caught out after investigators found his biometric data was not used to enter the "medium secure" site during the shift hours he had claimed and was paid for. He was ultimately charged with Fraud by Abuse of Position, and pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court last November. Armitage was sentenced by a judge to 18 years in jail, and he has been sacked by GMMH for gross misconduct, with the trust having referred him to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which has in turn suspended him. Ben Harrison, Head of Operations at the NHSCFA said: 'We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation. I want to thank the trust, alongside both the LCFS and NHSCFA colleagues, for the action they took in this case. "Armitage clearly exploited his position of trust to divert NHS funding from much-needed patient care. 'This case highlights the importance and effectiveness of the local counter fraud efforts across the NHS in uncovering and taking action against individuals who commit this kind of fraud.'
Sky News
16-04-2025
- Sky News
Family of man who committed murder after escaping from mental health unit say they were 'failed' by NHS trust
The family of a man who committed murder during an escape from a secure mental health unit have told Sky News they were "failed" by the trust that was meant to be caring for him. Joshua Carroll is currently waiting to be sentenced for the murder of Headley Thomas, known as Barry, after beating him to death in a park in Trafford, Manchester, in September 2022. At the time of the attack, Joshua was in the care of Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH). He was being treated as an inpatient at Park House, a unit which has now closed down. Joshua's mum and sister say he escaped from the unit 21 times - and they repeatedly complained to the trust and asked for help. Leanne Carroll, Joshua's sister, told Sky News: "The night it happened, Joshua had come to my house. And it was just a normal 'oh Joshua has escaped from hospital again'. Nothing appeared any different." She says they didn't find out about what had happened until Joshua was arrested weeks later - and "everything fell apart from there". "My heart broke," said Joshua's mum, Julie Carroll. "It's just a horrible, horrible situation." Joshua had been diagnosed with conditions including schizoaffective disorder, and had been in and out of inpatient care for around 15 years, his family said. They showed me more than 20 pages of complaints and responses from GMMH about his repeated escapes, dating back eight years before the murder. After Joshua's fourth escape from Park House, his family asked for him to be moved to another unit, saying they were concerned about security. This didn't happen, with the trust citing capacity issues. His family complained once again about his escapes just five weeks before the murder, in August 2022. "We are very, very angry and disappointed," said Julie. "You think if your child is in hospital, and they are very poorly, that they are going to be looked after - they will be safe and they will be secure. But that wasn't the case for Josh." Although Joshua was convicted of murder, Leanne says his family hold GMMH partly responsible. "If you had done your job properly - none of this would have happened," she said. "Two families wouldn't have been destroyed and so many hearts wouldn't have been broken." Since 2022, GMMH has been served with several Section 29A warning notices by the Care Quality Commission. These are issued when the commission decides a service needs to make significant improvements, and there is a risk of harm. In the case of GMMH, their concerns included "ward security systems not consistently keeping people safe". Dr John Mulligan is a clinical psychologist for GMMH, working in the community for the early intervention in psychosis service, and a representative for the union Unite. He and his colleagues have been going on strike repeatedly across the past seven months, saying they just don't have the staffing levels they need to keep people safe. "Thankfully, violent incidents among our service users are quite rare, they are much more likely to be the victims of violence and aggression," he said. "But serious incidents are happening regularly. Far too regularly. "It's very upsetting for staff and for patients and families." Salli Midgley, chief nurse at the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said: "On behalf of GMMH, we express our heartfelt condolences to Headley Thomas's loved ones at this very sad time. "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with everyone who has been affected by this most devastating incident. We are deeply sorry that it happened while Joshua Carroll was under our care. "Under the trust's new leadership, we have been working closely with NHS England, our commissioners and the CQC to create better, safer and well-led services for all." She continued: "A huge amount of progress has already been made but we know we still have a lot to do to improve our services. "As part of this work, we are currently carrying out an in-depth investigation into the care and treatment provided to Mr Carroll, and the circumstances leading to Mr Thomas' death, the findings of which will be shared with NHS England. "We are unable to comment further on this case whilst the investigation is ongoing." Barry Thomas's family told Sky News mental health is a very serious issue - but they believe Joshua Carroll tried to "play down his actions". They said: "Let's all remember that a life was taken. Our brother, father, and uncle. The evidence the police gathered was in plain sight for all to see. "We, the family, would like to thank all the police involved for the work they have done, in bringing justice for Barry."
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'If they take this away, they'll take the heart out of the community'
A mum who runs a support group for mums from a wellbeing centre in Harpurhey fears for its future after it was announced the facility's café is to close. Lauren Gregory, 35, from Blackley, has run Mindful Mums for almost two years. She was commended for her work at a recent showcase at then Manchester Science Festival. The group is based at No 93 Wellbeing Centre, Church Lane. The facility is run by Greater Manchester Mental Health services (GMMH). Lauren's free sessions - for mum mums suffering from mental ill-health - include meditation; arts and crafts; walks; and visits with kids to farms and petting zoos. The full-time mum runs the group for free. Lauren was inspired to set it up after being helped at the centre herself during the Covid pandemic. She also speaks with social services on mothers' mums' behalf if they need her help - and helps mums find talking therapies sessions; and set up health visitor and GP appointments. "The need is massive," Lauren told the Manchester Evening News. "I am the only maternal mental health support group in this area - and I'm a service user myself who's doing it for free." Lauren, who currently supports 10 mums and 14 children, said she is worried for the group's future after she was told the centre's café will close. It offers subsidised food and drink. Sessions will still take place, but Lauren said: "Are people still going to want to come? How do I engage these vulnerable adults and get them to come to a building where they can't even make a brew? I am really worried about what will happen. "I know for a fact some of our users won't go home and eat. They either can't cook, or they haven't got the money. And I know parents in my group go without food to feed their kids. I know the café closing is going to put people off. It's going to have a huge effect." Lauren added: "We don't have the money around here, people aren't in work, we have one of the highest rates of mental illness, and of people claiming benefits. "If they take this café, they will take the heart out of the community and there will be nothing there for people. It's really sad. I will carry on with the mums' group, but I won't get as many people to come. I might have to start buying them breakfast because I know some of them won't go home and eat. They just haven't got the money." Carol Harris, chief operating officer at the trust, said: "We are looking at all our services to ensure that they provide the best offer for people throughout our communities."
