Staff tried to save patient found hanging at Langho hospital

Jonathan Keith Davies (39), originally from Manchester, died at Royal Blackburn Hospital three days after being found hanging in his room at Kemple View Hospital, Longsight Road, Langho, which is run by the Partnerships In Care group

His mother, Mrs Diana Davies, had given a statement expressing her concerns over her son’s deteriorating condition, and aspects of his treatment.

Staff nurse Stephen Harrison told the inquest jury at Clitheroe he had gone outside on break when he heard the alarm sounding and rushed to Mr Davies’ room.

He saw Mr Davies hanging by a ligature from bedroom furniture, and two colleagues, John Warburton and Paul Bancroft, were already there supporting his weight.

He went to get ligature cutters, and when he returned Mr Davies had already been placed on the floor and Mr Bancroft was giving him CPR, chest compression resuscitation.

Mr Harrison said he took over giving CPR and administered defibrillator shocks, for which he was trained.

Mr Davies was then taken to hospital at Blackburn.

Earlier, psychiatrist Dr Frederica Yarwood told the inquest that Mr Davies had made no attempts at self-harm in the three months since he had been admitted to Kemple View.

He had been spending long periods in his own room, not mixing with others, but in twice-daily risk assessments, morning and evening, there was nothing to indicate an attempt on his own life.

Health care worker Ishraq Saghir said in a statement that staff always handed over each patients’ notes upon shift changeover. He said: “Had there been any concern raised about Jonathan, his presentation or his risk, I would have remembered.”

Mr Michael Singleton, Coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, adjourned the inquest until next week, when an expert psychiatric witness will give evidence, followed by the Coroner’s summing-up.