Anger of inquest patient's family

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The family of a psychiatric patient who died while on suicide watch have welcomed strong criticism of a Powys hospital from the coroner.

Local MP Roger Williams also said all the coroner's recommendations must be addressed after the death of Sylvan Money, 26, from Presteigne, Powys.

She hanged herself using a nightgown cord at Bronllys Hospital in 2004.

Her father Christopher said he hoped other tragedies could be prevented by the lessons learned.

At the inquest , coroner Geraint Williams found 36 errors had contributed to her death as he recorded a narrative verdict contributed to by neglect.

Ms Money was on 15-minute suicide watch when she was first admitted to hospital, but was downgraded to half-hourly checks within days. At the time of her death she was not checked for more than an hour following a breakdown in the rota system.

If her death can bring about the possibility of preventing other tragedies for others then all may not be lost Christopher Money

Four members of staff at the psychiatric unit were sacked after she died.

Mr Money said: "Our family feels completely devastated by the loss of our child, Sylvan, and much anger towards a system which failed to prevent her from taking her life.

"However if her death can bring about the possibility of preventing other tragedies for others then all may not be lost."

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Mr Williams said he had not been surprised by the verdict and the comments made by the coroner, which expressed disbelief, anger and irritation at many of the staff caring for Ms Money.

"We must ensure that the local health board look at the 36 recommendations that contributed to Sylvan's death and address every single one of them," he said.

He had not previously received any complaints about the unit at Bronllys and said in the past it previously had a good record for treating people with mental health problems in a progressive way.

'Vulnerability'

Marjorie Wallis of the mental health charity Sane said it was only through people like the Money family speaking out that they were able to get the message about making improvements to services through to the government.

"It's really quite unforgivable what's happened to Sylvan Money.

"It's well known that the greatest vulnerability is in the first few days, so the fact that she was not on proper suicide watch, the fact that people were not trained in suicide watch and the fact that they had not removed the ligature was really unforgivable," she said.

"We should be investing far more money in providing a safe haven for people like Sylvan Money, and we are not providing that haven for people in times of crisis."