Mental health blogger took her own life after taking poison bought online from ... trends now
A mental health blogger who took her own life after ingesting poison she had bought online from Russia was neglected by the psychiatric unit treating her, an inquest has found.
Beth Matthews had been categorised as being at 'high risk' of suicide when she had the substance shipped to her on a psychiatric ward at the Priory Hospital, in Cheadle Royal, near Stockport.
The 26-year-old was being surpervised by two members of staff on March 21, 2022, when she opened a parcel containing a plastic bottle of the substance, despite orders she should not be allowed to open her own mail.
She initially told staff it was 'protein powder' before ingesting it in front of them despite their efforts to stop her, after which she told them 'I'll be dead in an hour'. Ms Matthews suffered a fatal cardiac arrest the same day.
Beth Matthews, pictured here in her sailing gear on a yacht, ingested a poison she had bought online from Russia while in a psychiatric hospital
Ms Matthews, pictured left with her sister Lucy right, went into cardiac arrest after taking the substance on March 21, 2022, dying the same day
A nine-day inquest found that 'neglect' by staff had contributed to her death, with The Priory Group admitting her care plan 'was not followed' and if it had she would likely 'not have ingested the substance, and would not have died as she did'.
The hearing was told the upcoming three-year of her previous suicide attempt, as well as a recent break-up with her long-term partner Matthew Parkinson, the possibility of being transferred back to Cornwall, and a looming tribunal to challenge her section, were all factors likely to have had a 'negative' impact on her mental health in the lead-up to her death.
Analysis of her mobile phone showed during her time at The Priory, Beth made 'frequent' internet searches relating to the substance she ingested, especially during the two-week period prior to her death, the Manchester Evening News reports.
She also accessed online forums discussing suicide, and told a mental health nurse just weeks before her death that 'there are things you can purchase that can do the job'.
When pressed, Beth told the carer 'it's already done now,' and refused to expand further on her comment.
Beth's consultant at The Priory said this should have been raised with him but that she was on the highest risk level at the hospital already and as a result should not have been opening her own mail.
A handover document completed by night shift staff for the day team stated: 'Staff must open parcels for EM [Elizabeth Matthews]. Risk of secreting items from parcels'.
Her care plan also contained a 'clear' instruction that she shouldn't be allowed to open her own mail, the jury heard.
Delivering a verdict of suicide contributed by neglect, the jury said it was evident 'serious inconsistencies' existed 'across all levels of management' at the hospital in relation to knowledge of Ms Matthews' care plan.
The jury noted a lack of communication, a failure to escalate serous risks practices, lack of team cohesion, reliance on inadequate and inaccurate information, in particular to post management.
'Evidence provided demonstrated frequent deviation from Priory policy and care plan guidance which contributed to an increase risk to Elizabeth Matthews,' they said.
The management of Ms Matthews' post was clearly outlined in her care plan and handover notes, they said, but staff had 'consistently failed' to recognise post management as a 'serious risk', resulting in 'inadequate care of a highly vulnerable patient'.
There was also 'failure' to escalate a conversation Ms Matthews had with a member staff about buying items to end her life, the jury said, so the clinical team could review her risk management.
The inquest heard from healthcare assistant Olivia Woodruff, designated 'security' for distributing mail to patients that day and one of those who tried to restrain Ms Matthews, who said she hadn't seen the handover document and 'nothing' was
