Tributes paid to 'valued' Geordie Hospital chaplain

POPULAR "Geordie Hospital" chaplain the Rev'd Capt Katie Watson died just a month after being discharged from an inpatient mental health ward where she had been "treading water" for months, an inquest in Newcastle heard.

- SAM VOLPE

Following the hearing, her partner Dr Emily Watson paid tribute to a “unique, inspiring, passionate and compassionate” person who had touched thousands of lives.

An ordained deacon, Capt Watson appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Geordie Hospital, and through her work at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman hospitals she had become a much-loved local figure before her death on September 20 last year.

The show, which highlighted work at the RVI and Freeman during the later periods of the Covid-19 pandemic, featured her on the wards supporting colleagues and patients, along with welfare dogs Poppy Jingles and Fern.

At the inquest, acting senior coroner Karin Welsh heard how Rev'd Capt Watson's mental health had worsened through 2023 - and she had struggled with issues including suicidal ideation. In her conclusion, the coroner ruled Rev'd Capt Watson’s death to have been suicide.

However, in her remarks, the coroner added that Rev'd Capt Watson had been absent from work due to her mental health for a period in late 2022, and then again from October 2023 - this latter absence followed a colleague's death. She had also experienced an interpersonal issue at work which contributed to her stress.