Coroner warns of future deaths after case of mother found drowned

SHE FLAGS UP CONCERNS ON ISSUES WITH NOTE SHARING IN HANNAH CASE

- By OSCAR FISHER

FUTURE deaths may occur unless action is taken by a number of local healthcare authorities following the death of a woman in a Derbyshire river earlier this year, a coroner has warned.

Hannah Booth was found to have drowned in the Goyt River on January 6 after sending a text message that morning implying that she intended to take her own life.

The 42-year-old's death came less than one year after the birth of her daughter in July 2024, and she had subsequently been diagnosed with postnatal depression.

Months earlier, on November 25 last year, Hannah had a consultation with a GP at Sett Valley Medical Centre in New Mills due to concerns over lack of sleep, bonding with her daughter and isolation from new mums.

Due to self-harm concerns, an urgent referral was made to the perinatal mental health services because of Hannah's low mood, which was triaged by the perinatal mental health services and treated as routine.

There had been no further liaison with the GP regarding her reasons for considering the referral urgent.

Hannah was given an appointment for an assessment on December 16, which resulted in her being put on a waiting list for a full 'core' assessment.

She was offered nursery nurse support and the opportunity to attend a reflective programme.

Although Hannah did not appear to want to engage with the reflective programme, she did contact the perinatal mental health services to speak to a nurse due to her concerns about bonding.

Her last contact with anyone from perinatal mental health services was on December 24.

On December 27, however, Hannah got in contact to express concerns about her daughter's development.