Inquiry Commences into Woman’s Death on Psychiatric Ward

An inquest into the death of a 20-year-old woman who passed away on a psychiatric ward has heard testimony from her father, who stated his worries regarding her level of danger were “not taken seriously”. Jessica Powell’s death occurred on August 22, 2020, subsequent to an incident that took place three days prior at Summerlands Hospital in Yeovil. Her parents had a four-year wait for the inquest into her passing, which commenced at Taunton Coroners’ Court this past Monday. A statement from her father, John Powell, presented during the hearing, conveyed: “We had worried about Jess’s self-harming and life-threatening behaviour and part of me was always expecting a call to say she had died, but it still came as a shock.” Testimony at the inquest revealed that on the evening of August 19, 2020, Ms Powell was discovered by ward staff partially lodged in a window, which was open but equipped with restrictors. She was given emergency medical care and transported to Yeovil District Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries three days subsequently. The inquest was informed that since the age of 13, when she first attempted to end her life, Ms Powell had frequently been admitted to and discharged from psychiatric hospitals located hundreds of miles from her family. She ultimately received a diagnosis of emotional unstable borderline personality disorder. In his statement presented to the court, Mr Powell recounted: “We got a call from the ward to tell us that there had been an incident with a window and Jess was being taken to hospital as she was not breathing. “Ward staff did not inform us at this point that Jess had been found trapped in the window.”” Roberta Orton, Ms Powell’s psychiatrist, testified at the inquest, stating her belief that Ms Powell did not anticipate being unable to pass through the window. The inquest is scheduled to conclude next week.