Family claim mum let down by NHS after death at home

Woman, 31, struggled with bipolar disorder

- Thomas Cooper

GRIEVING relatives of a mum found dead at home have accused the NHS of ‘letting down’ their loved-one.

They believe Louise Hollins should have been admitted to Harplands Hospital, below, after certain behaviours were not picked up.

It comes as an inquest has this week failed to pinpoint exactly what caused the 31-year-old to pass away at her Tiverton Road home, in Bentilee, on May 5, 2024.

Following the inquest, sister Zara said: “She had been let down by mental health services for years. This shouldn’t have happened. People need to know about what goes on.”

The inquest heard Louise had been struggling with bipolar effective disorder since she was 18. She passed away less than a month after being put on the mood-stabilising drug lithium.

Early evidence at the inquest suggested that Louise may have died as a result of serotonin syndrome - which can occur when too many mood-regulating drugs are present in the blood - leading to heart failure. But while a toxicology report did indicate she had multiple SSRIs in her system, it also showed they weren’t at dangerous levels.