Private Mental Health Provider Fined Over Inpatient’s Tragic Death
29 September 2023
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The Private Mental Health Provider Cygnet Health Care Fined £1.53 Million Over Inpatient’s Tragic Death in London.
Losing someone to suicide is a devastating experience. That pain is only exacerbated when you believe the tragedy could – and should – have been prevented. If your loved one died as a result of inadequate mental health care, you may be entitled to make a preventable suicide claim for medical negligence.
At NJS Law, our compassionate and experienced suicide negligence solicitors support families across the UK in holding healthcare providers accountable for failures in mental health care that lead to avoidable loss of life.
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A preventable suicide claim is a type of medical negligence claim made when someone dies by suicide after receiving substandard mental health care. These claims can be brought against the NHS or private healthcare providers if it can be shown that:
Mental health professionals failed to assess or manage suicide risk appropriately
There were missed opportunities to intervene or provide support
The standard of care fell below what is legally expected
If you believe your loved one’s death could have been avoided with proper care and attention, we encourage you to speak with one of our specialist mental health negligence solicitors for a free, confidential case review.
In many cases, systemic errors or individual medical mistakes contribute to the tragic outcome. These may include:
Misdiagnosis or failure to identify serious mental health conditions
Ignoring clear signs of suicidal ideation or distress
Inadequate risk assessments or safety planning
Discharging patients from care too early
Lack of appropriate supervision, medication, or treatment
Poor communication with family members or support networks
Failure to follow up or refer to specialist services
Allowing access to dangerous substances or methods
Insufficient staffing or lack of available beds in crisis situations
Each case is unique, and our expert legal team will investigate every aspect of the care provided to determine whether negligence occurred.
Under UK law, certain individuals – known as dependents – are legally entitled to bring a wrongful death claim following a preventable suicide. These may include:
The spouse or civil partner of the deceased
Children or stepchildren
Parents or guardians
Siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, or cousins
Anyone who was financially dependent on the deceased
Individuals treated by the deceased as a member of their family
The executor or personal representative of the deceased’s estate
We’ll guide you through who can claim and what rights apply in your specific circumstances.
Under the Fatal Accidents Act, those left behind after a preventable suicide may be entitled to financial compensation, including:
Loss of financial dependency (e.g. income, pensions)
Loss of care, support, or services the deceased would have provided
Statutory bereavement damages (a fixed sum for close family members)
Funeral and other related expenses
Emotional pain and suffering
Loss of consortium or companionship
Loss of inheritance or future support
Loss of earnings if you have been unable to work due to grief
We’ll help you build a strong claim that reflects both your emotional loss and your financial needs.
Healthcare providers are expected to deliver care that meets professional standards. To assess whether there has been a breach of duty, we apply what’s known as the Bolam Test – asking whether other competent professionals in the same field would have acted differently.
If it’s found that the care your loved one received fell below this standard, you could be entitled to pursue a claim for mental health negligence.
At NJS Law, we’re dedicated to helping families affected by preventable suicides get justice. Our approach includes:
Free, no-obligation initial consultation
No Win, No Fee agreements – you won’t pay anything unless we win your case
Full investigation of the care and circumstances leading to the death
Liaising with medical experts and coroners to build your case
Compassionate support throughout the legal process
Maximising compensation to ease financial burdens
Our team has decades of combined experience in dealing with Medical Negligence Claims.
Our NJS Law Medical Negligence Specialists are sympathetic, understanding, and can help you get the outcome you deserve.
If you would like to discuss an issue, please get in touch to arrange a free no obligation consultation. We’re available by email or phone.
Call or email us today to discuss your claim.
The Private Mental Health Provider Cygnet Health Care Fined £1.53 Million Over Inpatient’s Tragic Death in London.
Nadia Persaud, the east London area coroner and the coroner who led the inquest about the suicide of Allison Aules, 12 in July 2022 has warned the health secretary that preventable child suicides are likely to increase unless the government provides more funding for mental health services.
For fast, friendly affordable legal advice. Contact a member of our team today.
NJS Law Limited is a Limited company which is UK based registration number 15170704.
Our services are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. www.sra.org.uk
Leanne studied the Bar Vocational Course at the BPP Law School in Leeds, and graduated with Very Competent, before cross-qualifying as a Solicitor in 2013.
Leanne began her legal career in 2009, specialising in Personal Injury claims, with experience across Road Traffic Accidents, Employer and Public Liability cases, and Medical Negligence matters.
As Head of Personal Injury, Leanne is instrumental in driving the growth and evolution of the Employer and Public Liability team, along with the Medical, Dental, and Cosmetic Negligence departments.
In her personal life Leanne enjoys holidaying and days out with her young family.
Kate has been a specialist solicitor in clinical negligence and dental negligence claims since 2010. During this time, she has mainly worked on the claimant side of negligence although she has obtained experience working at defendant firms which has given her invaluable insight.
Previous to qualifying as a solicitor Kate had a career in nursing qualifying as an RGN and subsequently working as a Theatre Sister at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. During her time working in clinical negligence she has run high value claims including a claim against the rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson.
She loves travel and wild life and has recently been scuba diving off the coast of Mexico with turtles, sting rays and moray eels.
