'Ben's death highlights how easy it is to slip through the cracks of our threadbare healthcare system'

NHS criticised after 29-year-old 'gentle soul' takes own life

- Thomas Cooper

THE grieving loved-ones of a 'gentle' man who took his own life have criticised the NHS following his death.

Benjamin Ryan plunged to his death from the roof of The Sneyd Arms Hotel, in Tunstall, on October 27.

The tragedy came less than 24 hours after he had been discharged from the Royal Stoke University Hospital - and placed in a top-floor hotel room with a window that opened 'fully' onto the roof.

An inquest heard the 29-year-old's mental health had been 'deteriorating for months, as he buckled under the strain of unemployment, debt and a misguided belief that his relationship was ending.

Events came to a head on October 25, when Mr Ryan's partner discovered him in a 'delirious state' at their Hanley home. It emerged he had attempted an overdose at about 7pm.

An ambulance was called and Mr Ryan was taken to the Royal Stoke. His condition stabilised on October 26, and he was seen by Marnie Hunt, a mental health nurse, for a discharge assessment at 5.30pm.

She told the inquest: "Mr Ryan recognised there were a number of social factors that were impacting his mental health. He identified unemployment, financial difficulties, and the need to source new accommodation as the key difficulties we needed to face.

"We came to an agreement that none of these factors would be changed by having Mr Ryan admitted to a psychiatric unit. Mr Ryan was optimistic about his upcoming appointment with the wellbeing service and felt positive that this, alongside support from his GP, would be sufficient.

"I spoke to Mr Ryan's mother who felt that her home was not the most appropriate place to go following his discharge from the Royal Stoke University Hospital. I consulted with social care colleagues to arrange plans to find Mr Ryan a hotel for the weekend.

"I did express that I felt he would be more vulnerable there."