Bed delay may have been factor in suicide

DELAYS in finding a bed for a distressed patient at a Cork psychiatric unit may have contributed to her suicide, a Fine Gael TD claimed last night.

Deputy Dan Neville raised the case of Anne Carroll who died while a patient of the South Lee Mental Health Services in November 2004.

He said an official probe into the taking of her life raised serious concerns about the level of care extended to her at the GF Unit where she was transferred to from the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital.

Ms Carroll had a history of mental health problems and was diagnosed as having bipolar affective disorder.

Deputy Neville said Ms Carroll returned early to the GF Unit from her weekend leave, complaining of feeling depressed, but there was a delay in finding her a bed as her previous bed had been given to another patient.

“Her family feels that Ms Carroll was extremely distressed by this and that this contributed to her suicide.

“The family also feels that insufficient support was offered by staff of the GF Unit to the family in the immediate aftermath of her death by hanging,” Mr Neville told the Dáil.

The TD said the report into the death of Ms Carroll, who was in her 30s, stated the layout of the GF Unit was unsuitable for the observation of patients.

“It was stated that the alarm system was not working on the day of Ms Carroll’s death.”

Last night, a spokesperson for the HSE said they would be improving observation facilities within the unit in light of the report.