A vulnerable woman with mental health issues died after absconding from a Tesco store while on accompanied leave with a support worker, an inquest has heard. Hayley Cowan, 29, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, fled the supermarket in Prestwich, Bury, when both she and her support worker went to the toilet. She was found dead the following day after using drugs at a friend's house.
An inquest jury at Rochdale Coroner's Court ruled that Ms Cowan died as a result of misadventure, with the medical cause of death confirmed as an adverse event arising from mixed drug use. She had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and ADHD, and had a history of illicit drug use. She was detained at the Edenfield unit within Prestwich Hospital, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.
Following progress on anti-psychotic medication, Ms Cowan was granted leave, which at times was unescorted. However, the coroner, Joanne Kearsley, highlighted a lack of consistency in how 'accompanied leave' and 'escorted leave' are defined, and noted there was no guidance for staff on what to do if they needed to use the bathroom while out with a patient.
Ms Kearsley has written to the Department of Health and Social Care and Home Secretary James Cleverly to prevent future deaths, stressing that the Mental Health Act Codes of Practice, Ministry of Justice guidance, and trust policy are inconsistent. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it takes every Prevention of Future Death Report seriously and aims to learn from them.
