Derby man took his own life after sudden mental health turn, inquest rules

A 64-year-old man took his own life after a sudden onset of anxiety and paranoia, an inquest heard.

Melvyn Blount from Derby, known as Mel, died on 14 January this year, having never suffered from mental health in the past.

The inquest into his death heard that in the five days between the start of Mel’s poor mental health episode and his death on 14 January, he was in contact with three health professionals, but only saw one in person. He was prescribed only sleeping tablets which did not ease his symptoms and the coroner heard that Mel was not given warnings about possible side effects of the medication, including suicidal thoughts.

Mel’s onset of anxiety, paranoia and delusional thinking began on 9 January. He had recently fitted some windows at his step-daughter’s house in Yorkshire and suddenly was tormented with fears about the quality of his workmanship and catastrophised about the consequences. He feared the house would be too dangerous to live in, that he would be sued and shame would be brought on his family.

Mel’s family were very worried and the following day, 10 January, with his wife Angela he completed an online survey for his GP surgery, Lister House in Derby. Mel scored very high on the depression and anxiety scales and three and a half hours later was called by a mental health practitioner who prescribed sleeping tablets, zopiclone 7.5mg, after Mel said he couldn’t sleep.

Angela said she felt there was more to this illness than lack of sleep but Mel was reassured. A follow-up appointment was made for 20 January.

Mel slept, but his symptoms did not improve and two days later, 12 January, Angela was so concerned that she drove to the GP surgery and asked for the mental health practitioner to telephone, which he did in the afternoon. Angela told the practitioner that Mel’s behaviour was out of character and she was very worried. She asked about a possible physical cause for his symptoms.

As a result, two hours later Mel was given a telephone consultation with a GP. She arranged a follow-up appointment with a mental health nurse the next day, Friday 13 January.

After speaking to Mel on the telephone, the nurse asked Mel to come into the surgery. During the consultation, Mel’s paranoia, delusional thinking and high levels of anxiety were clear and Angela described Mel’s complete change of character. The nurse arranged for Mel to have blood tests that day to rule out a physical cause and made an appointment to see Mel again after the weekend.

However, the following day Mel took his own life.

Angela said: “The death of my darling Melvyn was a tragedy that should never have happened. We married just three years ago and we should be living and loving our lives together, as we planned.

“Melvyn was loved by me and by his sons and stepchildren. We have been unable to fathom what happened in those few days after the sudden onset of his terrible anxiety and his completely unexpected death. Melvyn would not have left us to face this tragedy, a life unlived, bereft sons who he loved so deeply, and my daughter who has since given birth to our grandson, who he was so looking forward to meeting. None of this makes sense to us.

“We feel that if only the three clinicians we contacted for Melvyn had looked more deeply into the cause of his sudden illness, maybe we wouldn’t be living with this heartbreak.

After Mel’s family made a complaint to NHS England an independent review was undertaken into the care provided by the staff at the GP surgery and the pharmacy. The review criticised the care Mel was given by the clinicians involved with his case, saying that the cause of his illness should have been explored earlier and there should have been careful consideration of whether Mel was at risk of taking his own life.

Coroner Susan Evans said there were missed opportunities to explore whether Mel was suffering an acute psychotic episode and he could have been referred to a crisis team or to A&E - and missed opportunities to warn Mel's family not to leave him alone.

However, she added that Mel was so unwell in the days before he died she could not be certain that he intended to take his own life or to cause himself harm.

Leigh Day solicitor Lauren Tully added: "Melvyn’s tragic death has highlighted stresses in primary healthcare and in mental health provision. The court heard that despite Melvyn being in contact with three health professionals in the few days following the onset of his episode of severe mental health illness, only one interaction was held in person, and the sleeping tablets he was prescribed over the phone by his GP surgery did not address his symptoms of anxiety and paranoia.

“The in-person consultation was held on a Friday, with bloods taken and results to be received on Monday. That left Melvyn with the prospect of the whole weekend without support. He died on the Saturday morning.

“Melvyn was a patient who was in urgent need of help but there was a lack of urgency and recognition of the severity of his illness on several occasions.

“Melvyn’s family can only hope that health services are able to take heed of their terribly sad experience and ensure other families do not have to ensure the same.”

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