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| West Lane Hospital: Stop treating patients like animals, family say | West Lane Hospital: Stop treating patients like animals, family say |
| (3 months later) | |
| Nadia Sharif took her own life in August 2019 at West Lane Hospital | Nadia Sharif took her own life in August 2019 at West Lane Hospital |
| The family of a girl who died amid a string of mental health failures have called for changes so patients are not treated like "locked-up animals". | The family of a girl who died amid a string of mental health failures have called for changes so patients are not treated like "locked-up animals". |
| Nadia Sharif, 17, from Middlesbrough, took her own life at West Lane Hospital in 2019, two months after another teenager, Christie Harnett, died. | Nadia Sharif, 17, from Middlesbrough, took her own life at West Lane Hospital in 2019, two months after another teenager, Christie Harnett, died. |
| The 17-year-old had written notes of support to Miss Sharif, which their families agreed to share with the BBC. | The 17-year-old had written notes of support to Miss Sharif, which their families agreed to share with the BBC. |
| Her younger sister Anem said she wanted further investigations to take place. | Her younger sister Anem said she wanted further investigations to take place. |
| It follows three hard-hitting reports published as part of a NHS England-commissioned inquiry into the treatment of Miss Sharif, Miss Harnett, and former patient, 18-year-old Emily Moore. | It follows three hard-hitting reports published as part of a NHS England-commissioned inquiry into the treatment of Miss Sharif, Miss Harnett, and former patient, 18-year-old Emily Moore. |
| All three were being treated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) when they took their own lives. | All three were being treated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) when they took their own lives. |
| Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore died within months of each other under the care of the trust | Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore died within months of each other under the care of the trust |
| "I thought she was in that hospital being cared [for] and looked after - but actually, the reality was it was the opposite," Anem Sharif told BBC Radio Tees. | "I thought she was in that hospital being cared [for] and looked after - but actually, the reality was it was the opposite," Anem Sharif told BBC Radio Tees. |
| "They need to train staff, they need to look after patients and not treat them as if they are animals locked inside. | "They need to train staff, they need to look after patients and not treat them as if they are animals locked inside. |
| "I feel like if this was a normal hospital it would have been dealt with so severely but - when it's a mental hospital - no-one is looking into it as deeply as they should." | "I feel like if this was a normal hospital it would have been dealt with so severely but - when it's a mental hospital - no-one is looking into it as deeply as they should." |
| The report laid bare 120 failures the three encountered - 45 alone across several agencies regarded Miss Sharif, who had previously been diagnosed with Asperger's/autism spectrum disorder (ASD). | The report laid bare 120 failures the three encountered - 45 alone across several agencies regarded Miss Sharif, who had previously been diagnosed with Asperger's/autism spectrum disorder (ASD). |
| An investigation found: | An investigation found: |
| Miss Sharif had been restrained inappropriately twice, with CCTV footage showing her "dragged" down a corridor backwards. | Miss Sharif had been restrained inappropriately twice, with CCTV footage showing her "dragged" down a corridor backwards. |
| A lack of autism awareness and a "missed opportunity" to provide training for staff. | A lack of autism awareness and a "missed opportunity" to provide training for staff. |
| Care plans that expected the teenager to "earn" access to her own clothes. | Care plans that expected the teenager to "earn" access to her own clothes. |
| Plans written in the first person, including language 'highly unlikely to be used by a teenager', with no evidence the patient had written them. | Plans written in the first person, including language 'highly unlikely to be used by a teenager', with no evidence the patient had written them. |
| TEWV staff continued to contact her parents after she took her own life, despite being asked not to. | TEWV staff continued to contact her parents after she took her own life, despite being asked not to. |
| Her mother - whose first language is not English - was not included in discussions about her care, with an "assumption" made family members would interpret. | Her mother - whose first language is not English - was not included in discussions about her care, with an "assumption" made family members would interpret. |
| Miss Sharif's father Hakeel said the family had been "let down" and he was shocked by "so many failures". | Miss Sharif's father Hakeel said the family had been "let down" and he was shocked by "so many failures". |
| Nadia's parents, Arshad and Hakeel Sharif, have called for interpretation to be mandatory | Nadia's parents, Arshad and Hakeel Sharif, have called for interpretation to be mandatory |
| "There are so many errors, they made a mistake so many times," he said. | "There are so many errors, they made a mistake so many times," he said. |
| "Nobody was trained for autism. Every time they were saying, she's not in the right place. | "Nobody was trained for autism. Every time they were saying, she's not in the right place. |
| "It should be done properly, train their staff, they just let her down." | "It should be done properly, train their staff, they just let her down." |
| He called for interpreters to always be available for people who needed them. | He called for interpreters to always be available for people who needed them. |
| If you've been affected by issues in this article there is help and support at BBC Action Line | If you've been affected by issues in this article there is help and support at BBC Action Line |
| Miss Shariff received a letter of support from Miss Harnett during their treatment, and all three young women struck up a friendship. | Miss Shariff received a letter of support from Miss Harnett during their treatment, and all three young women struck up a friendship. |
| She wrote: "I know right now things are really tough for you but I would just like to say they'll get better." | She wrote: "I know right now things are really tough for you but I would just like to say they'll get better." |
| A hand-written note from Christie Harnett to Nadia Sharif, shared by their families | A hand-written note from Christie Harnett to Nadia Sharif, shared by their families |
| Another note read: "I'm really hoping things begin to look up. Keep fighting chick!" | Another note read: "I'm really hoping things begin to look up. Keep fighting chick!" |
| Miss Sharif's sister - who is now 17 herself - remembers her sister as "the most outgoing girl" who liked to shop and take selfies with her. | Miss Sharif's sister - who is now 17 herself - remembers her sister as "the most outgoing girl" who liked to shop and take selfies with her. |
| Nadia's sister Anem Sharif encouraged others "to speak up" | Nadia's sister Anem Sharif encouraged others "to speak up" |
| "I feel I just want to reach my full potential because she can't now," she said. | "I feel I just want to reach my full potential because she can't now," she said. |
| "She hasn't been able to see me grow, I passed my exams and she didn't get the chance to do that. | "She hasn't been able to see me grow, I passed my exams and she didn't get the chance to do that. |
| "She had a voice even though it was shut down - I feel people should look up to that, if there's a problem speak up about it. Even at her worst time she tried to get her voice heard." | "She had a voice even though it was shut down - I feel people should look up to that, if there's a problem speak up about it. Even at her worst time she tried to get her voice heard." |
| West Lane Hospital, which closed in 2019 following the deaths, provided specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), including treatment for eating disorders. | West Lane Hospital, which closed in 2019 following the deaths, provided specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), including treatment for eating disorders. |
| It has since reopened under a new name, with specialist services for children and young people run by a different health trust. | It has since reopened under a new name, with specialist services for children and young people run by a different health trust. |
| After the three reports were released on Wednesday, the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) admitted the hospital had "unacceptable failings" and apologised unreservedly. | After the three reports were released on Wednesday, the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) admitted the hospital had "unacceptable failings" and apologised unreservedly. |
| The government also apologised for "the failings in the care that they received." | The government also apologised for "the failings in the care that they received." |
| Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | |
| Asperger's syndrome | |
| Middlesbrough | |
| Newton Aycliffe | |
| NHS | |
| Shildon | |
| Autism | |
| Mental health |