Inquiry after York woman found hanging at Bootham Park Hospital

The patient died suddenly and was found by staff at the mental health hospital, described by inspectors as not fit for purpose.

The matter has now been raised in Parliament by MP Sir Hugh Bayley, who wants urgent plans to replace the 250-year-old building.

Months before the death on March 27, 2014, Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors identified “a significant number of ligature risks within the ward environment” and warned patient safety was at risk.

Anthony Deery, interim director of nursing and quality at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, expressed the trust’s “sincere condolences” to the woman’s family.

He said patient safety and care was their “utmost priority” and said the trust commissioned an independent review and carried out an internal investigation after the incident.

He said: “The circumstances of the death are still to be formally confirmed by the Coroner.”

He said all obvious ligature points had been removed by NHS Property Services, and “extensive work” was carried out to improve patient safety and facilities.

A quality improvement plan was also implemented, including raising of staff awareness around managing risk, the trust said.

The revelation of the patient’s death comes two weeks after York mental health services were criticised in an inspection of Leeds and York Partnership, which said a lack of funding was responsible.

In the Commons last week Sir Hugh said he had appealed for a new hospital to replace Bootham Park nearly a year ago “following an especially serious incident at Bootham Park Hospital... in which a patient died”.

Mr Deery said: “Much progress has been made in this respect since the CQC inspection last autumn and, in the meantime, we’re continuing to push for a new purpose-built hospital for the people of the Vale of York.”

There have been two unexpected deaths at Bootham Park since the start of 2012.