Tragic woman kept on locked ward 'wholly ill equipped for her needs'

A YOUNG autistic woman who died whilst detained on a locked psychiatric ward more than 250 miles from home was suffering 'harm' and 'trauma' as a result of being there as it was 'wholly ill-equipped to meet her needs' an inquest into her death has been told.

- CHRIS SLATER

 

Lauren Bridges, 20, was found unconscious in a bathroom at The Priory's Cheadle Royal Hospital in Stockport, on February 24 last year. She was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital suffering a cardiac arrest and later placed on life support, which was withdrawn and she died two days later.

Lauren, from Bournemouth in Dorset, had been transferred to a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the privately run hospital in July 2021.

An inquest jury has been told that it was intended to be a 'short-term' measure and that by early September she was deemed ready to be 'stepped down' to a different kind of unit closer to home.

However, she remained a patient at The Priory Cheadle by the time of her death with the inquest hearing the 'delay' in moving her, was a 'contributing factor' to a deterioration in her mental health.

The inquest at South Manchester Coroners Court in Stockport heard from consultant psychiatrist Christopher Ince, who in October 2021, some four months before Lauren's death, was asked to complete a report on her ahead of an upcoming mental health tribunal.