The parents of a 20-year-old woman who died at a mental health unit have said they hope 'lessons are learned' following an inquest into the tragedy. Amina Ismail was found collapsed in her room at the Priory's Cheadle Royal Hospital in Stockport on September 15 last year, and was pronounced dead shortly after despite resuscitation attempts.
A jury at Stockport Coroners' Court returned a verdict of 'misadventure', concluding that Amina died of 'ligature strangulation'. The inquest heard that Amina, originally from Birmingham, had been detained under the Mental Health Act at the privately-owned hospital since August 2022. She had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Jurors noted that Amina's length of stay and deteriorating condition contributed to her death. They found she was ready for step-down in September 2022 but remained on the locked psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to a shortage of appropriate beds. A healthcare assistant was found to have not followed policy by delaying entry to Amina's en-suite by one minute, but this was not deemed to have contributed to her death.
Amina's father Ahmed, speaking on behalf of himself and his wife Roda, said: 'Amina was a wonderful daughter and sister... She had her whole life ahead of her and it devastates us that she’s no longer with us.' He added that the family felt Amina was isolated, being miles from home, and criticised a mental health system that 'isn't equipped to deal with our most vulnerable'.
Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman said he would write to the health secretary about his concerns, noting it was not the first time he had done so. The Manchester Evening News reported that he had previously written a similar letter regarding the death of another young woman, Lauren Bridges, also at the same hospital.
