The Old Bailey
Begins 29 October 2024
Expected to last 9 weeks
An NHS Trust and former ward manager will stand trial for manslaughter of 22 year old Alice Figueiredo.
Alice died on 7 July 2015 whilst a mental health inpatient at Goodmayes Hospital, run by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT).
Now NELFT and the ward manager at the time of Alice’s death will stand trial for their actions in relation to her death.
NELFT is charged with corporate manslaughter as well as a health and safety breach. The ward manager at the time of Alice’s death, is charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and a health and safety breach.
The charges were announced by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following a Metropolitan police investigation into Alice’s death.
This is the first time an NHS Trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter over a death in a mental health unit.
The trial opens on 29 October.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, interview requests and to note your interest, please contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected].
The family are supported by INQUEST senior caseworker, Selen Cavcav.
Journalists should refer to the Samaritans Media Guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm and guidance for reporting on inquests.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS FOLLOWING DEATHS
This is the first time an NHS Trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter over a death in a mental health unit.
There have been a number of successful prosecutions brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) against NHS trusts and private hospitals in relation to deaths of patients in their care. These include:
- Matthew Caseby, 23, died a self-inflicted death after absconding from the Woodbourne Priory hospital in Birmingham in 2020 where he was an NHS inpatient. In March 2024, Priory Healthcare Ltd was fined £650,000 after admitting to criminal failures for exposing Matthew to serious risk of harm. Media release.
- Connor Sparrowhawk, 18, died after drowning whilst in an NHS care unit in Oxford on 4 July 2013. Teresa Colvin, 45, died in Hampshire in 2012. Southern Health NHS Trust was fined £1million and £950,000 after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety laws over their respective deaths. The trust was prosecuted by HSE. Media coverage.
- Amy El-Keria, 14, died a self-inflicted death whilst an NHS funded patient in a private mental health hospital in East Sussex run by the Priory Group. The Priory Group were fined £300,000 over breaches of health and safety law in relation to Amy’s death in April 2019. The charges were brought by HSE. Media release.
- NHS North Essex Partnership Trust was prosecuted by HSE and fined £1.5million in 2021 for safety failings over the deaths of 11 patients. Media coverage.
Alice Figueiredo
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The Old Bailey
Begins 29 October 2024
Expected to last 9 weeks
An NHS Trust and former ward manager will stand trial for manslaughter of 22 year old Alice Figueiredo.
Alice died on 7 July 2015 whilst a mental health inpatient at Goodmayes Hospital, run by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT).
Now NELFT and the ward manager at the time of Alice’s death will stand trial for their actions in relation to her death.
NELFT is charged with corporate manslaughter as well as a health and safety breach. The ward manager at the time of Alice’s death, is charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and a health and safety breach.
The charges were announced by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following a Metropolitan police investigation into Alice’s death.
This is the first time an NHS Trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter over a death in a mental health unit.
The trial opens on 29 October.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, interview requests and to note your interest, please contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected].
The family are supported by INQUEST senior caseworker, Selen Cavcav.
Journalists should refer to the Samaritans Media Guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm and guidance for reporting on inquests.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS FOLLOWING DEATHS
This is the first time an NHS Trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter over a death in a mental health unit.
There have been a number of successful prosecutions brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) against NHS trusts and private hospitals in relation to deaths of patients in their care. These include:
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