Ruth Szymankiewicz, a vulnerable 14-year-old girl, was unlawfully killed after an agency support worker failed to observe her at a psychiatric unit, despite her being a suicide risk. Ruth managed to harm herself after being left alone, leading to her death two days later. The worker, who used a false identity and lacked prior experience, did not receive adequate training. The unit's heavy reliance on temporary staff highlighted systemic issues in mental health care, with experts pointing out ongoing accountability gaps and staffing shortages in psychiatric services for children and adolescents.
The inquest concluded that Ruth Szymankiewicz was unlawfully killed due to the negligence of an agency support worker who left her unobserved despite her suicide risk.
Ruth's parents claimed she received inadequate therapeutic care and was further isolated due to the unit's location, impacting her mental well-being.
Health experts noted that accountability gaps exist in the training and vetting of agency staff, particularly in high-risk psychiatric environments.
A consultant psychiatrist identified a concerning reliance on temporary agency staff in psychiatric units for high-risk individuals, emphasizing systemic issues in mental health care.
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