The NHS hospital trust that runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, faces court tomorrow (Monday 27 October) over the death of a 16-year-old girl.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is being prosecuted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) over the death of Ellame Ford-Dunn.
Ellame, from Upper Beeding, was under 24-hour one-to-one observation by a registered mental health nurse in Worthing Hospital when she absconded.
She was found dead in the grounds of the hospital an hour later on the evening of Sunday 20 March 2022.
The trust has been charged with not providing care and treatment in a safe way, resulting in Ellame being exposed to a significant risk of avoidable harm.
An inquest into her death has been opened but stands adjourned, awaiting the outcome of the criminal prosecution.
Her family said that Ellame loved swimming in the sea with her brother and dancing with her sister. They described her as a people pleaser who always cared more about other people’s feelings than her own.
According to charity Inquest: “Ellame had a long history of trauma, suicidal ideation and self-harm. She was autistic and had ADHD and an eating disorder.
“She was under the care of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and had spent over 18 months in inpatient mental health care units.”
The charity said that she was discharged from Chalkhill Hospital, in Haywards Heath, in mid-January 2022, with a package of “aftercare”.
At the end of the next month, Ellame was informally admitted to Bluefin Ward, at Worthing Hospital, as a result of self-harm.
The charity said: “A few days later, she was detained under section 3 of the Mental Health Act after absconding from the hospital and ligaturing. She was placed under 24-hour one-to-one observation by a registered mental health nurse.”
On Sunday 20 March at 8.30pm, Ellame absconded. Security staff searched the hospital grounds before calling Sussex police.
The charity added: “At 9.30pm, police found Ellame having ligatured in the hospital grounds. An ambulance was called and Ellame was taken into the hospital where she was declared dead shortly after.
“The scope of the inquest will examine events from the time of her discharge on Tuesday 18 January 2022 until and including the events of Ellame’s death on Sunday 20 March 2022.”
The criminal case was first listed at Brighton Magistrates’ Court in early July and was adjourned until tomorrow (Monday 27 October).
The inquest is due to take place at the West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Coroner’s Court. The most recent hearing took place in late July when it was adjourned because the criminal case takes precedence.
