System failed our daughter, say parents, as NHS trust fined 200,000 over death

"The supervising agency nurse watched Ellame leave the ward but did not follow her because she said she had been instructed not to leave the ward if a patient absconded, Brighton magistrates court was told last month. On Wednesday the trust was fined 200,000 plus costs by the district judge Tessa Szagun for criminal health and safety offences over Ellame's death."

"Judge Szagun said: Any organisation entrusted with the care of amongst the most vulnerable in society should be alert to and proactive to changes in advice and guidance. That should have covered the recognition of the increased pressures and demands being placed on such wards by the need for them to accommodate the more risky and needy patients such as Ellame."

Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, died on 20 March 2022 minutes after leaving the Bluefin acute children's ward at Worthing hospital, part of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust. A supervising agency nurse watched Ellame leave but did not follow because she said she had been instructed not to leave the ward if a patient absconded. The Care Quality Commission prosecuted and the trust pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment resulting in avoidable harm. The trust was fined 200,000 plus costs for criminal health and safety offences. The trust said the ward was not equipped for vulnerable mental health patients and cited a national shortage of adolescent mental health beds. Judge Tessa Szagun said organisations caring for vulnerable people should be alert to increased pressures and accommodate higher-risk patients. Ellame's parents said the system failed to protect their daughter.

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