In a House of Commons debate today, Wednesday 8 June 2016, Havant MP Alan Mak has called on Southern Health to move from “apologies to action” following the death of a mentally-ill resident under their care. The fresh blow comes after a long line of complaints and controversies, which prompted a thorough investigation from Care Quality Commission investigators in April 2016.
David Hinks, 30, committed suicide in December 2015 following ‘cries for help’ to Southern Health’s Acute Mental Health Team. He had warned a number of health professionals that he wanted to kill himself and had attempted to end his life on at least five occasions. Yet despite this, he was never admitted to a psychiatric ward, instead being offered a range of anti-depressants and a place in a group therapy session.
The Havant MP gave his support for greater intervention by NHS Improvement to protect patients and comply with recommendations made by Mazars and the CQC to ensure that similar tragedies do not happen again.
Mak has been a strong advocate of positive changes to Southern Health since revelations of the Trust’s failings in 2015.
Last year, The Trust was blamed in a report produced by accountancy firm Mazars for its failure to investigate deaths of people with learning or mental health disabilities. Health regulator Monitor announced an action plan on 12 January 2016, which would include regular unannounced inspections by the Care Quality Commission.
The Havant MP previously met Southern Health Trust Chief Executive Katrina Percy and Medical Services Director Leslie Stevens in Westminster on Monday 18 January 2016 alongside other Hampshire MPs.
Mak is a co-founder and Vice-Chairman Hampshire All-Parliamentary Group.
Mak said, “Following the tragic death of Havant resident David Hinks, patients’ faith in Southern Health needs to be restored fully and quickly. The Trust has got a new leadership structure that have accepted the recommendations of the Mazars and CQC reports, so it’s now time to move from apologies to action. Better procedures, improved staff training, stronger communication with families, and learning from past mistakes are all needed.”
Mak added, “We had an informative meeting with Southern Health’s leadership in Westminster. The Hampshire MPs group where I am Vice Chairman will continue to hold Southern Health’s feet to the fire until we get the improvements patients deserve. Lessons must be learnt from David Hinks’ death and change and improvement must happen.”
Mak has asked to visit a Southern Health facility in the near future to see for himself the changes that the Trust has promised to implement.
Photo – Alan Mak MP speaks in the Parliamentary debate to press Southern Health for improvements
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