Sister hopes Lancing suicide victim did not die in vain
A WOMAN whose brother hanged himself at a psychiatric hospital is hoping a new investigation will prevent more deaths.
Jane Lambert's brother, Michael Stevens, was found hanging by a belt in his room at Meadowfield psychiatric hospital, in Arundel Road, Worthing, on September 27, 2008.
Mr Stevens, of Penhill Road, Lancing, died five weeks later on November 1, aged 53.
Now Sussex Police officers are investigating his death, along with three others at the Conquest Hospital, in Hastings.
Change
"We are just so pleased that the police are investigating all of them," said Mrs Lambert.
"Finally, we feel as though something is being done about it and, hopefully, it will bring about changes in the mental health system so that this sort of thing does not keep happening time and time again."
An inquest into Mr Stevens' death last year found the Southlands Hospital porter had had more time to hang himself when a breakdown in communication meant he was not checked between 7.15pm and 8pm on September 27.
He was supposed to be checked every 15 minutes.
Awful
"We thought what happened with Michael and the outcome of the inquest would save other people, but, obviously, nothing has changed," said Mrs Lambert, who lives in Aldershot.
"It is awful that people are still dying because things have not been changed in the mental health system."
Meadowfield and the Conquest Hospital are both run by the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Sussex Police is being assisted in the investigation by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and is establishing the facts surrounding these four people's deaths to produce a timeline of exactly what happened when and where.
"No specific offences have been identified at this time."
Tragedy
Conquest Hospital was closed in October last year after two patients were found dead in less than two months.
A spokesman for the trust said: "We have more than 600,000 contacts a year with people who depend on us for support.
"Approximately 10 per cent are admitted to hospital. These patients are very ill and, sadly, a high proportion are suicidal.
"Every suicide is clearly a tragedy and, if it happens on one of our wards, we follow a very detailed review process based on national best practice."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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