Mother breaks down in tears watching CCTV of mental health nurses doing each other’s hair and checking their phones at moment her son, 20, prepared to take his own life

• Bren McFarlane, 20, took his own life at a mental health unit in Blackpool
• Contact Samaritans for free on 116 123, email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch

A mother broke down in tears as she watched CCTV of mental health nurses doing each other’s hair and scanning their mobile phones as her son prepared to take his own life. 

Bren McFarlane, 20, spent three weeks on a waiting list for a mental health unit to become available after a psychiatrist requested an urgent placement at a ‘place of safety’.

Eventually, he was admitted to The Harbour in Blackpool on October 24 last year. The 154-bed mental health hospital which provides care and treatment for adults who cannot be safely treated at home. 

But within 24 hours, he was found unresponsive after self-harming. 

Mr McFarlane had a history of self-harm and suicide attempt and was deemed to be a ‘risk to himself’ when he was assessed by the psychiatrist at his home in Accrington Lancashire.

Bren McFarlane (pictured left), 20, spent three weeks on a waiting list for a mental health unit to become available after a psychiatrist requested an urgent placement at a ‘place of safety’

Mr McFarlane, who grew up in Bacup in Rossendale, Lancashire, who was classified as Level 3 in terms of risk, died in hospital four days later.

On the second day of the inquest taking place this week, the jury watched CCTV footage from inside his room as well as the nurses’ station room which has a window to allow for regular observations.

Jurors heard that although Mr McFarlane personal belongings had been recorded, on his admission to The Harbour, he had managed to keep an item which was not logged. 

For a period of 20 minutes, during which no observations of Mr McFarlane were made, he modified this item which he later used in his en-suite bathroom to take his own life.

Over a one hour period, from 9.30am until 10.29am when Mr McFarlane was found unresponsive, staff spent two minutes and 54 seconds observing him. 

Mr McFarlane’s mother Gail Rawlinson, who was watching the footage for the first time, broke down as the clip showed one nurse doing a colleague’s hair and another nurse using her mobile phone.

At 9.35am, one minute after Mr McFarlane began to create the item he used to take his life, the footage shows a nurse sat on a desk and scrolling through her phone. At 9.38am another nurse spends several minutes doing her colleague’s hair.

Mr McFarlane self-harmed at The Harbour in Blackpool and was later taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where he died on October 29

At 10.16am, Mr McFarlane went into his bathroom and was found there, unresponsive, at 10.29am. 

He was resuscitated and taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but treatment was withdrawn when doctors discovered he had suffered a brain stem death due to a lack of oxygen.

Mr McFarlane, who died on October 29, was posthumously awarded the Order of St John which honours donors and their families who donate their organs to save and improve the lives of others.

Detective Inspector Steven Montgomery from Blackpool Police was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr McFarlane’s death. DI Montgomery confirmed that Mr McFarlane had not been searched on arrival at The Harbour.

Barrister Laura Nash, who is representing Mr McFarlane’s family during the inquest, asked DI Montgomery if he knew what websites or apps had been accessed by the nurse who was seen on her phone. He suggested ‘social media’ but this has not been confirmed.

The psychiatrist who assessed Mr McFarlane on several occasions in October, and who requested an urgent bed at a mental health unit, was asked to comment on whether his three-week wait for a placement is common. ‘It does happen frequently,’ the doctor said.

‘It is mostly with male patients; it’s easier to find a bed for female patients. It’s a very common occurrence.’

The psychiatrist said that prior to his admission to The Harbour, Mr McFarlane had been exhibiting symptoms of psychosis, had not been eating or drinking and was displaying signs of paranoia and impulsivity.

Mr McFarlane, who had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, also had a history of suicide attempts and staff at the supported accommodation where he lived had seen a meat cleaver in his room.

The inquest, which is due to last five days, continues.

• Contact Samaritans for free on 116 123, email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch 

Source: Read Full Article