Family say they are let down by NHS after son's inquest (From Echo)

Family say they are let down by NHS after son's inquest

8:00am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News

A FAMILY say they have been let down by mental health services in the county after their son took his own life.

Coroner Jacqueline Devonish recorded a suicide verdict into the death of Benjamin Sutton, 20, of Perry Street, Billericay, and said she will consider write a letter to the South Essex Partnership Foundation Trust demanding answers.

He was allocated a worker from the Trust’s mental health team to battle his problems, but when his worker went on leave, he was never allocated a replacement and went months without being assessed.

The Trust also came under fire after the inquest heard that a mental health nurse decided to send Mr Sutton to treat his alcohol and drug problems ahead of treating his mental health.

He was found dead just a few weeks later in September 2011 in the grounds of Hadleigh Castle after going missing for two days after overdosing on a liquid form of the drug GHB.

Speaking after the inquest, Benjamin’s father Andrew, 47, said: “It won’t bring back our son but hopefully the system will be improved and suicides are prevented.

“Ben felt let down by the service and hearing the evidence today he was let down.

“He was let down by a hole in the system but we wanted the truth and it came out today.”