Unlawful killing of teenager at intensive psychiatric care unit confirmed, reports Ruth Szymankiewicz
In a shocking turn of events, an inquest has found that Ruth Szymankiewicz, a 14-year-old girl, was unlawfully killed while under treatment at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire. The tragic incident occurred on February 14, 2022, while Ruth was a patient on a children's psychiatric ward.
The Active Care Group, which took over management of the unit from Huntercombe Group Hospitals in 2021, expressed their condolences and regret for Ruth's death. They have since not engaged the agency involved in the incident.
The inquest revealed significant failings in care that led to Ruth's death. The support worker responsible for her care was found to have left his shift early, leaving her alone for around 15 minutes without ensuring a replacement was available. Moreover, this worker was hired using a false name and falsified documents.
Staffing issues, safety and leadership failures, and deficits in training and supervision were highlighted as key contributors to Ruth's death. The hospital had previously received negative Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection reports, with concerns about safety and leadership. Despite these issues, they were not adequately addressed.
The inquest strongly recommended improvements in staff recruitment, vetting, training, and ensuring strict adherence to observation protocols for vulnerable patients at mental health facilities like Huntercombe Hospital. The jury also found that Ruth was not prevented from accessing harmful content on the internet.
The Department of Health and Social Care expressed sympathies for Ruth's family and friends and acknowledged the poor care at the hospital. They have instructed the NHS to prioritize increasing the availability of mental health beds and are investing £75 million this year to reduce inappropriate out of area placements.
Ruth's parents, both doctors, expressed their disappointment with the system that was meant to care for their daughter but instead harmed her. They found themselves trapped in a system that failed to provide the necessary care and support for their daughter.
The coroner suggested that if the inquest found unlawful killing, it would amount to gross negligence manslaughter by the support worker responsible for Ruth's care. The unit where Ruth was a patient was frequently understaffed, including on the day of her death, with 50% of workers being agency staff.
Huntercombe Hospital, also known as Taplow Manor, was closed down in 2023 following the investigations. The inquest finding is unusual and highly significant, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of proper care and supervision in mental health facilities.
- Despite ongoing issues with staffing, safety, and leadership, the Department of Health and Social Care planned to prioritize increasing the availability of mental health beds and invest £75 million this year to reduce inappropriate out of area placements.
- In light of Ruth's tragic death, the Department of Health and Social Care emphasized the need for improvements in staff recruitment, vetting, training, and adherence to observation protocols for vulnerable patients at mental health facilities, like Huntercombe Hospital.
- The closure of Huntercombe Hospital, also known as Taplow Manor, in 2023 came as a result of the investigations into Ruth's death, serving as a grim reminder of the importance of proper care and supervision in health-and-wellness facilities, particularly those focusing on mental-health issues.
