Trust criticised over man's death

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A Hampshire health trust has been criticised for failures in caring for a mental health patient, who died after being restrained for 25 minutes.

Geoffrey Hodgkins, 37, of Leigh Park, Havant, died a day after seven staff restrained him on a floor at St James' Hospital, Portsmouth, in November 2004.

An independent inquiry said staff had ignored guidelines recommending a three-minute restraint for patients.

Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust said the care was "inadequate".

'So many failures'

The Independent Mental Health Inquiry Report criticised the Trust for allowing untrained staff, including security guards, to restrain Mr Hodgkins.

It found staff subsequently failed to communicate effectively with ambulance crews and said three calls had to be made before paramedics attended.

According to the inquiry report, the family of Mr Hodgkins were not kept informed of the trust's investigations after the incident.

Bruce Hodgkins, Mr Hodgkins' brother, said: "There are so many failures identified that it's hard to know where to start.

We fully accept the inquiry panel findings that the services and support provided were inadequate Zenna AtkinsPortsmouth PCT chairwoman

"I want to know why my brother was grabbed by up to seven people, forced to the floor and held until after about 25 minutes he began to turn blue and his eyes were flicking."

Lynne Corrieri, of the mental health charity Mind, said she was "amazed" security guards were allowed to intervene.

"They were not trained in relation to the care or restraint of mental health patients," she said.

"Geoffrey was known to respond well to distraction techniques but no one even attempted to speak to him before grabbing him and forcing him to the ground."

Zenna Atkins, chairwoman of the PCT, said they were working with the Strategic Health Authority to look at recommendations in the report.

She added: "The care he [Mr Hodgkins] received fell below the standards we aim to offer the local community and for that we are deeply sorry.

"We fully accept the inquiry panel findings that the services and support provided were inadequate in this case.