Lack of mental health beds contributed to UK teenager’s death, inquest finds
A shortage of mental health beds and poor communication between agencies contributed to the death of a teenage girl on hospital grounds, an inquest has found,Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, who had a history of self-harm, died in March 2022 after absconding from an acute children’s ward where she had been put because of a dearth of appropriate mental health beds,Her family and campaigners say Ellame’s death exposed a mental health system “crumbling at the seams”,The inquest jury at West Sussex coroner’s court was told that Ellame absconded “multiple times” during her stay at Worthing hospital’s Bluefin ward, which was not a specialist mental health unit,Jurors concluded the decision to place Ellame there was “inappropriate” and “more than minimally” contributed to her death.
They found “inadequate provision” of mental health beds also contributed to her death.The coroner Joanne Andrews said she would issue a prevention of future deaths report to warn that more children would die unless the inadequate provision of mental health beds was tackled.Ellame’s parents, Ken and Nancy Ford-Dunn, urged the government to increase funding for mental health services to ensure “other families don’t have to experience the worst thing imaginable”.When Ellame absconded she was not immediately followed by staff, because they were not allowed to chase patients out of the ward, the inquest heard.It took 59 minutes for her to be found by police, the jury was told.
University hospitals Sussex (UHSussex), which runs the acute ward, was fined £200,000 last year in a separate prosecution over Ellame’s death.Her mental health care was provided by Sussex partnership NHS foundation trust (SPFT).Jurors concluded that “poor coordination, communication and accountability” between “multiple agencies” also contributed to Ellame’s death.“Inconsistency in nursing handovers” and a lack of guidance for staff were another factor in her death, they found.The jury foreman said: “The instructions given to agency-registered mental health nurses were inadequate, patient notes were held on multiple systems, with access not freely available to agency staff and inadequately transferred during handover.
“UHSussex’s policy for missing patients was not designed for high-risk mental health patients, and the procedure to be followed in the event of absconsion was unclear and not appropriately communicated.”In a statement Ellame’s parents said the devastation of their daughter’s death would be “compounded if no lessons are learnt and no meaningful changes are made, as so often has been the case”.They added: “We therefore call on NHS England and Wes Streeting to increase funding for mental health services so that more young people aren’t left waiting for the care that they so desperately need.“We call on SPFT to create effective specialist provision for young people with mental health needs who are currently still inappropriately placed, like Ellame was, on local paediatric wards that are not set up to provide safe and positive mental health care.”Jodie Anderson, a senior caseworker at the charity Inquest, which has supported the family, said: “Ellame’s inquest has exposed a mental health system in Sussex that is crumbling at the seams.
“A lack of specialist beds and a dismissive response to Ellame’s distress left her to languish in an unsuitable paediatric ward.A lack of urgency and professional curiosity was endemic throughout her care.”The family lawyer, Ilaria Minucci of Birnberg Peirce, said: “Ellame’s case needs to remind us that stories like hers are not isolated instances, and that they reflect a crisis at the national level in respect of children’s mental health services that needs to be dealt with urgently.” In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.
ie.In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14.Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.
org
Jacob Bethell dismantles Sri Lanka tail to deliver T20 series clean sweep for England
It was a thriller on a Pallekele turner, the game going England’s way. Jacob Bethell’s part-timers turned lethal, his three-wicket over dismantling Sri Lanka’s tail to help secure a 12-run win in the third and final Twenty20 international.The tourists put up just 128, their total built by Sam Curran’s 48‑ball 58, a score to which no one else came close. But it proved enough on a worn surface as England’s raft of spinners went to work. And while Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson are the veteran frontliners, this night belonged to Bethell and Will Jacks
Fans attack ‘classless’ NHL for cutting cancer donation by $800,000 after missed shot
The NHL has received backlash after slashing a donation to cancer research by $800,000 after a missed shot during a charity promotion.The incident came during Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Rob Higgins, the athletics CEO of the University of South Florida, was brought on to the ice to attempt a shot through a very small opening in an empty goal. If Higgins, who is a cancer survivor, made the shot the NHL said it would donate $500,000 to cancer charities; if he missed the donation would be $100,000. The event was broadcast live on Sportsnet in Canada and ESPN in the US
Welcome to Team GB’s Milan base: TV, games, popcorn and 5,000 teabags
Team GB’s athletes at the Winter Olympics will be fuelled by 130kg of Quaker porridge oats, 5,000 Aldi teabags and a Formula One simulator. The Guardian was given rare access to the team’s base at the Olympic Village in Milan, where 10 of their 55 athletes, including the figure skaters Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear, are staying.The rooms are cramped, just about big enough to fit two single beds, but Team GB is attempting to make athletes feel more at home with a large TV showing BBC One, jigsaw puzzles and Connect 4. There are huge supplies of popcorn, coffee and fruit pastilles.Team GB’s deputy chef de mission, Anne Sargent, said the team had also brought in sofas, stationary exercise bikes and a room for doctors and physios
Lindsey Vonn confident she can compete at Olympics despite ‘completely ruptured’ ACL
Lindsey Vonn said she is “confident” she can compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Games despite revealing she has been managing a ruptured ACL, maintaining that her Olympic comeback remains on track after a crash last week raised fresh doubts over her participation.Speaking on Tuesday, the 41-year-old American said she was approaching the final decision cautiously but remained focused on lining up for the downhill at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where the Olympic women’s alpine programme opens Sunday.“Last Friday in Crans Montana in the last World Cup I completely ruptured my ACL,” Vonn said. “I have to take it day by day. My goal is obviously right now the downhill
From Bradbury to Bright: five of Australia’s best Winter Olympic moments | Martin Pegan
The sun-drenched nation is beginning to hold its own in winter sports having already enjoyed a number of memorable Olympic successes The most unlikely of triumphs that spawned its own catch phrase. A consistent contender in high-flying skiing and snowboard events. And a breadth and depth of talent that continues to grow as snow sports go global.Australia competed at 12 Winter Games with mixed results before finding a first spot on a podium and its place among the national snow and ice strongholds. Six gold, seven silver and six bronze medals have now been secured – with high hopes for more to be added to the collection at Milano Cortina – as well as some of the nation’s most celebrated Olympic moments
Figure skater saved from scrapping Olympic routine after Minions music copyright dispute
The Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté has been spared a last-minute scramble to redesign his Olympic short program after overcoming a copyright dispute that had threatened to block him from using music from the Minions franchise at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.The six-time Spanish national champion, who is set to make his Olympic debut in the men’s singles event, said he learned late last week that the routine he has performed throughout the 2025-26 season would not be cleared for Olympic use. Guarino Sabaté said he had submitted the music through the International Skating Union’s recommended rights-clearance process months ago and had competed with the program without issue during the season, including at last month’s European championships in Sheffield.However, on Tuesday the 26-year-old thanked his fans after Universal gave him permission to use the Minions soundtrack.“Huge THANK YOU to everyone who reposted, shared and supported
Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for mushroom and artichoke puff-pastry quiche | Quick and easy
How to make mulligatawny – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass
Guinness Open Gate Brewery, London WC2: ‘Absolute “will-this-do?” nonsense’ – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants
The rise of ‘beef days’: why even meat lovers are cutting back
New type of Bordeaux wine to gain official status as result of climate pressure
Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for citrus and almond cake | The sweet spot