Trigger warning – this article contains references to themes of self-harm and suicide which some individuals may find distressing.
Bren McFarlane (20) was found unresponsive in a mental health hospital less than 24 hours after his arrival at The Harbour in Blackpool. The Harbour is a 154-bed hospital that provides care to adults that can’t be safely cared for at their home residence. But what happened, and what is happening?
CCTV footage was released as part of the inquest into his death showing NHS nurses vaping, scrolling through their phones, and plaiting each other’s hair. This was captured whilst McFarlene was planning his suicide in October 2022.
ITVX reported that Blackpool’s Senior Coroner Alan Wilson has released the CCTV footage as shown at the inquest to highlight the level of neglect the young man endured. Security camera footage reveals that employees watched Mr McFarlane for just 2 minutes and 54 seconds during the hour leading up to 10.29 am, when he was discovered unconscious.
After being revived, he was sent urgently to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. When medical professionals recognised that he had died from an oxygen-related brain stem injury, they stopped treating him. “We say that on the balance of probabilities the care delivery issues more than minimally, trivially, or negligibly caused or contributed to Ben’s death,” the jury declared during the trial. The inquest found that Bren McFarlane died by ‘misadventure’ rather than suicide.
Raised in Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire, Mr McFarlane was diagnosed as a Level 3 risk when admitted to The Harbour. NHS documentation explains a Level 3 Risk requires “One to One Observation. They are Patients, who could, at any time, make an attempt to harm themselves or others and should be within eyesight and accessible at all times, day and night.” Despite this Chris Oliver, Chief Executive of the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust was forced concede, “staff behaviour, fell below the professional standards we expect…”
He went on to say: ‘I extend my personal condolences on behalf of the Trust to Bren’s family for their loss and our thoughts remain with his family and friends. We conducted a thorough inquiry when Bren passed away, and the results revealed deficiencies in the way we provided our care, including problems with the estate and the environment. Several colleagues’ actions fell short of the professional standards we hold them to and that most of our colleagues exhibit daily were also among the shortcomings’.
By Ieuan, Yr9
Sleaford Carre’s Grammar School Newsroom
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This seems a very difficult situation for all concerned. Thank you for producing an article on such a difficult subject, Ieuan.