Before HM Assistant Coroner Ian Wade KC
Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court
29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, HP9 2JJ
Opens 4 August 2025
Expected to last 9 days (the court is not sitting on Friday 8 August)
Ruth Szymankiewicz,14, died on 14 February 2022 following an incident of self-harm at Taplow Manor Hospital in Maidenhead, run by the Huntercombe Group (now called the Active Care Group). At the time of her death, Ruth was detained under the Mental Health Act. Now an inquest will examine the circumstances of her death.
Taplow Manor was rated ‘Inadequate’ by the CQC in February 2021 and as ‘Requires Improvement’ in July 2021. It eventually closed in 2023.
Ruth was a loving, kind and adventurous child. She was bright, with great friends and a love of sports and animals.
In August 2021, following an admission to a general paediatric ward due to concerns about her eating, Ruth was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed with an eating disorder.
On 4 October, shortly after her 14th birthday, Ruth was transferred to Thames ward, a Psychiatric Intensive Care ward at Taplow Manor (previously known as Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead). She was placed under constant supervision.
Once on the ward, contact with her family was severely restricted. Ruth’s family repeatedly raised concerns about Ruth’s care.
The inquest will now examine the circumstances of Ruth’s death and the care she received including:
- The decision making of Thames Valley Provider Collaborative in relation to Ruth’s placement on Thames ward and the monitoring of that placement.
- The overall management of Ruth’s care on Thames ward including the management of her NG feeding regime, her access to psychological therapy, her access to education, and her access to her mobile phone
- Ruth’s contact with her family and the engagement with and involvement of her parents in her care.
- The management of Ruth’s risk
- The supervision of junior staff and oversight by senior staff.
- Staffing on the ward and the response by management to staffing concerns.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information and to note your interest, please contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected].
The family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Charlotte Haworth Hird of Bhatt Murphy and Tim Moloney KC and Alison Seaman of Doughty Street Chambers. They are supported by INQUEST Senior Caseworker Jodie Anderson.
Other Interested persons represented are Active Care Group (formerly the Huntercombe Group) and Oxford Health NHS Foundation.
Taplow Manor has been subject to a series of media investigations over allegations of ‘systemic abuse'.
Journalists should refer to the Samaritans Media Guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm and guidance for reporting on inquests.
Ruth Szymankiewicz
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Before HM Assistant Coroner Ian Wade KC
Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court
29 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, HP9 2JJ
Opens 4 August 2025
Expected to last 9 days (the court is not sitting on Friday 8 August)
Ruth Szymankiewicz,14, died on 14 February 2022 following an incident of self-harm at Taplow Manor Hospital in Maidenhead, run by the Huntercombe Group (now called the Active Care Group). At the time of her death, Ruth was detained under the Mental Health Act. Now an inquest will examine the circumstances of her death.
Taplow Manor was rated ‘Inadequate’ by the CQC in February 2021 and as ‘Requires Improvement’ in July 2021. It eventually closed in 2023.
Ruth was a loving, kind and adventurous child. She was bright, with great friends and a love of sports and animals.
In August 2021, following an admission to a general paediatric ward due to concerns about her eating, Ruth was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed with an eating disorder.
On 4 October, shortly after her 14th birthday, Ruth was transferred to Thames ward, a Psychiatric Intensive Care ward at Taplow Manor (previously known as Huntercombe Hospital Maidenhead). She was placed under constant supervision.
Once on the ward, contact with her family was severely restricted. Ruth’s family repeatedly raised concerns about Ruth’s care.
The inquest will now examine the circumstances of Ruth’s death and the care she received including:
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information and to note your interest, please contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected].
The family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Charlotte Haworth Hird of Bhatt Murphy and Tim Moloney KC and Alison Seaman of Doughty Street Chambers. They are supported by INQUEST Senior Caseworker Jodie Anderson.
Other Interested persons represented are Active Care Group (formerly the Huntercombe Group) and Oxford Health NHS Foundation.
Taplow Manor has been subject to a series of media investigations over allegations of ‘systemic abuse'.
Journalists should refer to the Samaritans Media Guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm and guidance for reporting on inquests.
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