Inquest Hears Autistic Teenager’s Mental Health Care Was ‘Totally Inadequate’

At an inquest, the partner of an autistic woman who passed away as an inpatient in a mental health facility asserted that her care was “totally inadequate” and that her death could have been avoided. Morgan Rose Betchley, aged 19, passed away in March of the previous year on a ward at Meadowfield Hospital in Worthing. She was a mother to a one-year-old son. Miss Betchley’s mother informed the inquest that in the last weeks of her life, her daughter had been “passed from pillar to post” and had been left with feelings of being “completely hopeless”. The inquest, taking place in Horsham, is set to investigate the treatment and care provided to Miss Betchley during the six weeks preceding her death. The proceedings are anticipated to span 10 days. Testimony at the inquest revealed that Miss Betchley had experienced mental health difficulties since she was 12 years old and had a history of self-harm incidents. However, her family stated that she had been “settled and stable” since the birth of her son and had been an “attentive and loving” mother. Miss Betchley resided with her partner, Dominic Goddard, and their son in Chichester, where she was pursuing architecture studies at Chichester College. Following a resurgence of her illness in January 2023, Miss Betchley was admitted to Meadowfield Hospital on three separate occasions. Mr. Goddard, employed as a carer for individuals with dementia, had been in a relationship with Miss Betchley for almost four years, and they welcomed their son in March 2021. He remarked, “It shocked me that this is how mentally ill people are looked after.” He expressed that staff communication felt inadequate, that he was not included in her care, and that staff appeared “pretty annoyed” and “like everything was a chore”. Notwithstanding their apprehensions regarding her care, Miss Betchley’s family opposed every proposed plan for her discharge from the hospital. The hearing was informed that between her hospital admissions, she visited accident and emergency departments multiple times, was admitted to the Woodlands acute care unit in Hastings, and spent 24 hours in a police cell following an arrest. Tanya Betchley, Miss Betchley’s mother, testified at the inquest that the family felt “railroaded” into accepting plans for another discharge, stating it was “as if no one wanted to help her.” Mr. Goddard characterized the proposal for a crisis team to evaluate her for discharge on 9 March as “completely ridiculous and unsafe”. He further stated, “I was really worried about her coming home in terms of what she might to do herself but I felt like I had no power at all.” Miss Betchley’s body was discovered in a corridor at Meadowfield Hospital during the early hours of 9 March 2023. Mr. Goddard commented, “I don’t think she intended to take her life, I think this was another cry for help.” He also stated, “I never thought Morgan could actually do anything serious while on a psychiatric ward as we thought it was a safe space.” The proceedings are ongoing.