Neglect and failures that contributed to Charlotte's tragic death

THE death of a young woman detained on a mental health ward was 'contributed to by neglect, a jury has concluded after a 10-day inquest hearing.

- By PAUL BRITTON

The mental health trust responsible said it was 'truly sorry' for what it called 'failings in the care and treatment' provided to Charlotte Parry, 27.

Her family said they were 'absolutely devastated' and hit out at 'significant and systematic failures. They described Charlotte, a twin, as 'passionate, kind and caring' and said she had worked 'diligently helping others' as an occupational therapist.

The jury at Manchester Coroners' Court was shown an emotive video compilation of her life at the conclusion of the inquest.

Charlotte, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, was an inpatient on the Bronte Ward, based at Laureate House at the hospital in Wythenshawe, having been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, OCD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder.

She was found unresponsive in her bedroom on January 30, 2022, having 'self-applied a ligature, the jury said in a record of inquest. Charlotte was taken to the hospital's intensive care unit and diagnosed with a 'devastating brain injury. She died there days later, on February 6.

The Bronte Ward is operated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), which said after the inquest it would be contacting Charlotte's family personally 'to reiterate [its] apology.

The trust's rating by watchdog the Care Quality Commission was suspended following revelations aired in an undercover BBC Panorama report in 2022. The trust as a whole was then rated 'inadequate' in July 2023.