Coroner slams senior hospital medics: 'Complete lack of respect'

In a furious attack on staff of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), Kate Sutherland, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said the lengthy delay displayed disrespect for herself, the coronial service and the family of the deceased, 37-year-old Ben Harrison.

Mr Harrison, an admin worker from Denbigh, died in the Ablett Unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, on December 18, 2020, having apparently hanged himself.

At a pre-inquest hearing in May, 2022, Ms Sutherland expressed serious concerns about the Board’s investigation into the incident, a report on which she had received minutes before the hearing.

But at a second pre-hearing on Tuesday, March 21 she said there were still some documents outstanding.

“It is an unusual and unacceptably long time,” she said.

“I do find there has been a complete lack of respect not only for the process and proceedings but also for Ben’s family.”

She said she had received 750 pages of documents on Monday of this week but clearly hadn’t had time to consider them.

Two of the Board’s most senior medics, executive medical director Dr Nick Lyons, and interim director of nursing for the mental health division, Dr Paul Lumsdon, apologised for the delay and outlines what changes had taken place and how the action plan which followed the investigation was being implemented.

Dr Lyons said that when he learned of the length of the delay he was also very concerned.

Ms Sutherland said she would be taking the unusual step for her of  issuing a Section 5 order calling on the Board to produce certain documents within 28 days or face a financial penalty in default.

She also issued a Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths report, which is normally done at the conclusion of a full inquest.

“I am concerned that deaths will continue to occur,” she said.

Another pre-hearing will be held before the full inquest is held, possibly before the end of the year.