Sussex family take case to Prime Minister

Jane Lambert’s brother, Michael Stevens, a former porter at Southlands Hospital, died five weeks after he was found hanging by a belt in his room at Meadowfield Hospital, in Worthing, in September, 2008.

Police investigated the death of Mr Stevens of Penhill Road, Lancing, along with four others at psychiatric hospitals run by the same trust earlier this year.

In June, they announced they had found no evidence of criminal offences.

Another death occurred in October 2010, this time at the Mill View hospital in Hove.

Mrs Lambert, who lives in Aldershot, said her reaction when told about the latest death had been “absolute horror”.

“I would have thought that as they they had been under the spotlight, it could not happen again,” she said.

“I don’t know what to say any more. I am lost for words.”

Mrs Lambert has now written to David Cameron and other top government ministers about the Sussex Partnership Trust.

“After the initial inquest, we thought things might change and improve.

“Then to hear about all the others, then with the police investigation, we thought, ‘it has given them so much damning publicity that they have to change’, but it has happened again.”

A jury at the inquest of Mr Stevens in 2009 recorded a narrative verdict, saying an omission to observe him had given him more time to hang himself.

A spokesman for Sussex Partnership Trust said: “We are unable to say anything publicly about the recent case until after the inquest is over.

“Our first thoughts are with the family, whom we are supporting after this tragic incident.

“Sussex Police have investigated the circumstances surrounding the death and are satisfied no crime has been committed.”