Settlement agreed following student’s death on Norwich to Cambridge rail line

In May this year Norwich Coroner William Armstrong investigated the death of David Thompson, a 21 year old Cambridge University student who died on 22 January 2009.

His body was found on the rail tracks at Brandon station. The Coroner’s verdict was “suicide whilst suffering from mental illness”. However, David’s family believed that his death was “100% preventable” and sought compensation from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust on the basis that he should not have been granted unaccompanied leave from Fulbourn Hospital at that time due to his evident vulnerability. A settlement has now been agreed, but the NHS Foundation Trust has not admitted liability for David’s death.

David, who was studying Natural Sciences at Corpus Christi, had first been treated for depression in early 2006. However, his health improved by autumn 2006 and he did not seek medical advice for depression again until autumn 2008. From this time until shortly before his death, David was being treated by his Cambridge GP. On 16 January 2009 David travelled to Eastbourne where he approached police and was taken to the local hospital, having convinced them that his intention in travelling to the Beachy Head area had been to harm himself.

The following day he was brought back to the Fulbourn Hospital in Cambridge as a voluntary patient. The plan was that he should remain here until Saturday 24 January whilst his parents made contact with the health professionals who previously treated David to allow for plans to be made for David’s continued care on his return home. His parents would collect him and take him back to their home in Northern Ireland having agreed that he should take time out from university in order to concentrate on improving his health.

Having undertaken a short unaccompanied visit to shops local to Fulbourn Hospital on 21 January, and not being de-briefed on return, David was allowed to leave the hospital again at lunchtime on 22 January saying that he was going into Cambridge. It transpired in the external review that had he been de-briefed and there been the realisation that the trip had not gone well, the second trip out may have been curtailed or even not allowed. Both periods of leave were in agreement with senior ward staff at the hospital. David rang the hospital at 4.40pm on 22 January saying that he would be late back as he was in Norfolk. Sadly he never returned and his body was found on the rail track at Brandon station at 6.45pm.

Mr and Mrs Thompson have been represented by Sharon Allison, a clinical negligence lawyer at Ashtons Legal, who comments: “We heard in evidence at the inquest from the Consultant Psychiatrist in charge of David’s care that, in hindsight, the decision to grant leave was clearly the wrong one. We are also aware that an External Mental Health Review conducted after David’s death made over 40 recommendations for change in the procedures at Adrian House, Fulbourn Hospital.

Mr and Mrs Thompson did not bring this case for financial reasons, but in order to draw further attention to the need for better procedures at the hospital and to try to ensure that no other families will have to undergo the same heartache that they have suffered in recent months. No settlement can ever begin to compensate for the loss of a son.”

Mr and Mrs Thompson add: “We find that the failure to instigate a nursing plan for a vulnerable patient in need of specialised care is a sad reflection on mental health care in England today. Having sat through the evidence from hospital staff at the inquest, it is our considered view that David never stood a chance of recovery with the indifference portrayed by each member of staff. The doctor in charge of the ward, and ultimately the person in charge of David’s care, had been given specific information by David’s Mum which we feel should have been acted upon, enabling David to be cared for and kept safe from harm. Sadly the doctor chose to ignore our information and our wishes, something we cannot forgive. David had high potential in life and will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends.”