A teenager who died after being left unsupervised at a children's mental health hospital should have been watched at all times, an inquest has heard. Ruth Szymankiewicz was under strict one-to-one observation when she managed to shut herself in her bedroom alone for 15 minutes.
The 14-year-old was being treated for an eating disorder at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire when the incident occurred on 12th February 2022. She self-harmed and died two days later at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Staff member used false identity
The member of staff responsible for watching Ruth at the hospital's psychiatric intensive care unit had been using false identity documents. The man, then known as Ebo Acheampong, was hired under a false name and later fled the UK for Ghana shortly after Ruth's death.
CCTV footage shown to the jury at Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court revealed Ruth walking out of the ward's day room "completely on her own". She went straight to her bedroom and closed the door behind her, coroner Ian Wade KC told the hearing on Tuesday.
Nurse found teenager unconscious
Fifteen minutes passed before a nurse opened the door and covered her mouth in what appeared to be an expression of shock. Ellesha Brannigan, who worked as a clinical team leader on the ward, told the court she ran to Ruth's bedroom after the alarm was raised.
"She was just still," Ms Brannigan said, adding the teenage girl was not breathing. Staff initiated chest compressions in an attempt to revive her.
Highest level of observation required
About a week prior to the incident, Ruth's care plan had been escalated to "level three observation" after a similar self-harming incident. "Level three observation is within eyesight at all times," Ms Brannigan told the hearing.
Staff members would take turns watching Ruth for 60 minutes at a time, the inquest heard. Ms Brannigan explained that even "level two observation" would have required a member of staff to check on the patient "every five or 10 minutes".
No circumstances for looking away
When asked by the coroner if there were circumstances in which a member of staff responsible for level three observation could take their eyes off the patient, Ms Brannigan replied: "No." She emphasised that if a patient is prescribed level three observation, staff "must comply with what is prescribed".
The coroner previously said Mr Acheampong will not be giving evidence at the inquest as he fled the UK for Ghana shortly after Ruth's death. The inquest continues.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
