"A mentally ill man jumped to his death in the River Thames after medical staff failed to act on warnings that he was planning to take his own life, an inquest has heard. Tony Duncan, 34, went to A&E at King's College Hospital to get medical help for his mental health struggles, and had spelled out his plan for jumping from London Bridge if he did not receive support."
"But a coroner heard how a nurse minimised the risk of suicide, did not review Mr Duncan's medication, and referred him back to his GP. The nurse also suggested Mr Duncan should speak to a homelessness team for support, despite his insistence that he was not homeless. Days later, Mr Duncan left home in the middle of the night and jumped from a bridge into the Thames. His body was recovered three days later on July 7 last year."
"Alison Hewitt, the Coroner for the City of London who oversaw Mr Duncan's inquest, has now written to the Medical Director of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, raising concerns about the care he received before his death. She set out how Mr Duncan went to his GP for help in June last year after suffering acute symptoms of his mental health condition, complaining of a persistent headache and suicidal thoughts."
Tony Duncan, 34, sought medical help for acute mental health symptoms and suicidal thoughts and told a doctor he planned to jump from London Bridge. The GP referred him to A&E at King's College Hospital with a request for mental health assessment and medication review. A psychiatric liaison nurse judged his presentation to stem mainly from social circumstances, did not review medication, and discharged him back to his GP while suggesting homelessness support despite his stating he was not homeless. Days later he left home at night, jumped from a bridge into the Thames, and his body was recovered three days later. The Coroner has written to the trust's Medical Director raising concerns about his care.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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