Court Hears Allegations of Emotional Blackmail Against Mental Health Patient

Testimony in court revealed that a staff member at a London mental health facility informed a young woman she would “go to hell” if she committed suicide. Alice Figueiredo, 22, was receiving care on the Hepworth ward at Goodmayes Hospital, which is part of the North East London Foundation NHS Trust (NELFT), when she died by suicide in July 2015. The Old Bailey heard that an email sent to the hospital by her mother, Jane Figueiredo, stated Ms Figueiredo had experienced “emotional blackmail” from certain staff members. NELFT has entered a not guilty plea to corporate manslaughter, and ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, 53, who faces a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence, has also pleaded not guilty. At the Old Bailey, the jury was presented with a document comprising multiple statements from Jane Figueiredo, alongside several letters addressed to the ward professionals concerning her daughter’s treatment. Statements prepared by Mr Aninakwa for the coroner’s inquiry into the fatality were also heard by the jury. He asserted that he had made many efforts to contact the family and that he “did not contribute” to Ms Figueiredo taking her life. Readers should be aware that this article contains content that some may find upsetting. The court was informed that Mrs Figueiredo characterized her daughter as an intelligent, gifted artist and an accomplished public speaker. Nevertheless, she contended with bipolar affective disorder, which resulted in severe depression, and an eating disorder. Her admission to Goodmayes Hospital occurred in February 2015, prompted by a community worker’s concerns regarding her welfare. Jane Figueiredo’s statement indicated that she visited her daughter frequently, occasionally up to six times weekly. Her husband, Max, also made regular visits. Mrs Figueiredo, who was employed as a chaplain for NELFT during that period, voiced several concerns regarding the care her daughter was given at the facility, the court was told. During one particular event, Ms Figueiredo self-harmed despite being scheduled for close observation by a care worker. Subsequently, Mrs Figueiredo sent a letter to the hospital, cautioning that without improvements, “it is only a matter of time before there is a fatality on this ward”, according to court testimony. In a separate email, she remarked that some staff members seemed “careless” concerning the risks posed to a patient such as Ms Figueiredo. “Alice needs compassion, patience and support, not judgmentalism, or being spoken to or treated like she is an offenders’ institution,” she stated, as heard in court. Mrs Figueiredo characterized the remark about going to hell as “uninformed” and asserted that it “failed to see a merciful, compassionate God.” Furthermore, the court was informed that Mrs Figueiredo brought up issues with unit professionals regarding Ms Figueiredo’s treatment by fellow patients – one struck her in the face, and another had been “goading Alice to kill herself.” She also conveyed her belief that by pointing out deficiencies in care, Ms Figueiredo and her family were being held responsible for the unit’s low morale. A statement from Ms Figueiredo’s boyfriend, Andrew Gordon, was also presented to the court. He mentioned visiting frequently but observed that the unit was often in “chaos,” with staff occasionally difficult to locate. Jurors were informed that he exchanged text messages with Ms Figueiredo and spoke with her by phone on the evening she passed away. He stated that there “wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.” At 02:00 BST, he received a call informing him of Ms Figueiredo’s death. In his statements to the coroner, drafted in 2016, Mr Aninakwa asserted that he ensured all personnel, including temporary agency and bank staff, were trained in conducting patient observations. He further stated that he consistently acted in the best interests of Ms Figueiredo and all individuals under his care. The legal proceedings are ongoing.