3 April 2019

Before HM Senior Coroner Mark Layton
Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire Coroner’s Court, The Town Hall, Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, SA73 3JW

Opens 10am, 8 April. Expected to last 4 days.

Emily Inglis died of self-inflicted injuries on 22 April 2016, whilst detained under the Mental Health Act. She was in the care of Hywel Dda University Health Board in Prince Phillip Hospital, Llanelli, Wales.  Emily had experienced serious mental ill health throughout her adult life and had been in the mental health unit of the hospital since November 2015.

The inquest into her death was scheduled for early February but unexpectedly adjourned, so will now take place from Monday 8 April.

Emily’s family describe her as a warm, bright and caring 26 year old, a very much-loved daughter, sister and friend. The inquest into her death will explore a range of issues, including the assessment and management of Emily’s risk to herself, observations of her and staff training.  

Numerous previous inquests have uncovered critical failings at the hospital’s mental health unit, as well as in the wider mental health services run by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Emily’s parents, Mike and Sam Inglis, said: “Emily was not just our daughter, but a best friend to her sister and ourselves. She fought her illness for several years, battling with so many obstacles. She always put others first and has left such a chasm in ours and so many other lives. 

It was only after a lot of research, wondering what to do next, that we found the charity INQUEST. They put us in touch with a specialist legal team who have helped us so much, also the help from close friends, for whom we are so grateful for their support and diligence.

The past three years waiting for the inquest to start has been extremely stressful and we hope that the inquest will answer the questions we have.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information contact Lucy McKay on 020 7263 1111 or email email. 

INQUEST has been working with the family of Emily Inglis since her death. The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Clare Richardson and Amalia King of Deighton Pierce Glynn solicitors and Sophy Miles of Doughty Street Chambers.

The other interested persons represented at the inquest are the psychotherapist who assessed Emily in the months and weeks before her death and the Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Mental healthcare deaths in the care of Hywel Dda University Health Board

• Lance John Kenneth Osborn, 28, died a self-inflicted death in May 2017. At the time of his death he was in the care of Hywel Dda University Health Board mental health services. An inquest in February 2018 identified failings in the care he received. See media coverage in Western Telegraph.
  
  
• Holly Elizabeth Greenway, 21, died a self-inflicted death at home on 23 April 2015. She had been a patient at Prince Philip Hospital’s mental health unit. She was discharged from the hospital despite her mother’s concerns. The inquest into her death concluded in February 2016, with the health board admitting communication failures. See media coverage in Western Telegraph.
  
  
• Heddwyn Hughes, 67, died on 18 October 2015 following an injury whilst in the care of Hywel Dda University Health Board at a Carmarthen care home. Heddwyn had a lifelong learning disability, which required full time care and for Heddwyn to be detained under a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DOLs). The inquest into his death concluded in October 2018 finding serious failures in his care. See INQUEST media release.
  
  
• Derek Brundrett, 14, died a self-inflicted death at Pembroke School in December 2013. He had been in the care of the Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Despite numerous hearings, an inquest into his death has still not concluded. See media coverage in Wales Online.
  
  
• Laura Hill, 21, died a self-inflicted death on 17 December 2012. She had gone missing from Bro Cerwyn mental health unit (run by Hywel Dda University Health Board) the day before. In February 2015 the inquest into her death found issues with assessment and observations. See media coverage in BBC Wales.
  
  
• Lauren Smith, 18, died a self-inflicted death on 17 November 2012. She was a student at University of Wales and had been referred to local mental health services under Hywel Dda Health Board, from her home services in Kent and Medway NHS Trust. The inquest into her death concluded in October 2013. See media coverage in BBC Kent.
  
  
• David Anthony Jones, 33, died a self-inflicted death on 17 September 2010. In April 2012 the inquest into his death concluded with the jury giving a critical narrative conclusion. They found a range of failings including around communication and observations. See media coverage in Wales Online.
  
  

In 2018 and 2019, there have been numerous critical findings at inquests into the deaths of young women in mental health care. See recent INQUEST media releases for more information:

• Jury find neglect contributed to self-inflicted death of teenager Sophie Bennett in care home.
• Jury concluded neglect by the Leicestershire Partnership Trust contributed to the death of Amanda Briley died aged 20.
• A series of failing contributed to the death of Sophie Payne, aged 22, on a mental health ward on Roehampton.
• Failings in the care of Zoe Watts, aged 19, contributed to her death on a secure mental health ward.