A healthcare assistant from the Midlands has pleaded guilty to neglecting her duties, leading to the death of a teenage patient at a mental health hospital.
Plea Change on First Day of Trial
Sylvia Quaye-Mensah, 42, changed her plea to guilty on what was scheduled to be the first day of her trial at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, November 18. The defendant, from Monsall Avenue in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, admitted to the ill-treatment or neglect of a care worker by failing to perform required observations on her patient.
The Tragic Outcome for a Young Patient
The patient, 19-year-old Louise Furlong, died at Highbury Hospital in Nottingham on September 12, 2022. Her death occurred the day after an incident that has not been publicly disclosed. The court heard that the neglect charge stemmed directly from Quaye-Mensah's failure to carry out the necessary patient checks.
Sentencing Adjourned with Stark Warning
Appearing in the dock wearing a grey zipped jacket over a black top, Quaye-Mensah was granted conditional bail. Judge James Sampson adjourned the case for sentencing until March 2 next year to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. However, he issued a severe warning to the defendant, stating, "Do not read anything into the adjournment. This case is so serious that you must prepare yourself for a custodial sentence." This case has raised significant concerns about patient safety and care standards within mental health services.
