Sharon Jefferies, from Slatyford, Newcastle, is demanding answers after her daughter Chloe Davies, 28, died just three days after being discharged from Lanchester Road Hospital in Durham, despite family warnings that Chloe had threatened to take her own life if released.
Chloe was sectioned at the hospital for around a month, but was discharged on August 7 this year. That same day, Sharon was told that Chloe had not taken the transport that had been arranged upon leaving hospital. Chloe was reported missing, and later that evening, Sharon received a call that her daughter was threatening to take her own life at a location in Durham.
Police managed to talk Chloe down, but she had suffered injuries that would lead to her death on August 10. By the time Sharon arrived at University Hospital of North Durham, Chloe was heavily sedated and in worsening health.
Family warnings ignored
Sharon and other family members had shared with hospital staff that Chloe had sent them voice notes making heartbreaking threats to harm herself if she was allowed out. Despite these warnings, Chloe was discharged that day. Sharon showed ChronicleLive pictures of self-harm wounds she believes were around a day old, and played voice messages from her daughter in which she appears to suggest she would harm herself if released.
Sharon told ChronicleLive: "After she died, I asked them why didn't they listen to the family? She was my daughter, she was 28, and they didn't listen to me. We were saying 'don't let her come out, she's not ready'."
She added: "We didn't know that she was going to be discharged. We knew she had another meeting for assessment but my niece got a phone call saying she'd be discharged at five o'clock. This was on August 7. We know something has happened in between her leaving running away from the hospital at 5pm and going to the [location]." ChronicleLive has chosen not to name the location where Chloe attempted to take her own life.
Daughter's history and tribute
Chloe had a long history of mental ill health, including post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Sharon said: "We thought we had got her to the place she needed to be, but they turfed her out."
She paid tribute to her daughter: "She was a force of nature, so caring and loving and she would do anything for anyone. She had her struggles but always loved her animals, she had three dogs. She was such a kind person, and had wanted to be in the fire service."
Investigation and next steps
A spokesperson for the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust said it was not possible to comment on confidential treatment details. A coroner's investigation has been opened, and a "mention" hearing to update on this progress is due on November 7.
