Depressed mother-of-one hanged herself after being let down by the NHS

tunisante August 11, 2016 Health

Dionne Corbett, 25, was found hanged at her home on February 26
Her family said she was let down by the NHS in the days before her death
When she went to her GP three days prior to her death, her important medical notes had not arrived from her hospital visit the day before
Her aunt told the coroner’s that the NHS ‘failed in their duty of care’

Thomas Burrows for MailOnline

Published:
10:13 EST, 10 August 2016

|
Updated:
10:51 EST, 10 August 2016

View
comments

Dionne Corbett, 25, a telesales worker from Bolton, was found hanged at her home on February 26 this year

A mother-of-one who had a history of depression hanged herself after being let down by NHS red tape, her family have said.

Dionne Corbett, 25, a telesales worker from Bolton, was found hanged at her home on February 26 this year.

Her family said she was let down by the NHS in the days before her death, who ‘failed in their duty of care’ to get a mental health worker to help her.

Bolton Coroner’s Court heard how Miss Corbett had injected herself with adrenaline and was admitted to hospital four days before her death.

She left before a doctor called for her 40 minutes later.

The following day, she visited her local GP to discuss her mental health, but her important medical notes had not yet arrived from the hospital.

This was because her GP surgery was within Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s catchment area that only joined the data management hub – which means hospital attendance notes are automatically transferred within four hours of discharge – in April.

Instead it was sent via a letter in the post.

‘Rip my little Angel daddy loves you so much xxxx’: Father’s…

Rail fanatic, 24, was tagged in a Facebook post showing a…

The GP faxed a referral form to the local mental health trust under an ‘urgent’ classification but said in hindsight his assessment would have been the same even if he had had the notes.

Miss Corbett was the ‘life and soul of the party’ but also had a history of depression

Assistant coroner Rachael Griffin said: ‘In this day and age digitally is a lot quicker and for the care of a patient and prevention of a death or a missed opportunity of treatment electrically would be safer.

‘This concerns me, and it concerns me the there could be the death of somebody in the future.’

However Miss Griffin found there was ‘no evidence of neglect’ with regards her death and recorded a narrative verdict.

She said: ‘Dionne died as a consequence of self-suspension by ligature in circumstances where her intention remains unclear.’

Royal Bolton Hospital gave assurance to Miss Griffin their system was undergoing an overhaul and ‘steps would be taken’ in the meantime.

Miss Corbett’s GP had not received her hospital notes when she went to the surgery three days before her death

Speaking at the inquest Miss Corbett’s aunt, Debbie Wilcock, said the death of her mother and father within weeks of each other in 2013 had a ‘significant impact’ on her life.

The ‘fit and healthy’ single mother was the ‘life and soul of the party’ and planned on a future working in health and beauty, her aunt said.

She added: ‘I feel that she was let down. The NHS failed in their duty of care to Dionne, they had every warning sign there.

‘On two consecutive days she’s gone and tried to get help. She must have been desperate for the help. How bad do you have to be to get a mental health worker to help you? It’s unbelievable.’

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, click here for details.