A grieving mother has voiced her outrage after an inquest revealed shocking failures in the care of her daughter, who took her own life after experiencing a “significant reduction” in support. Beth Langton, 22, was found dead in her Retford flat on February 18, 2023, after ingesting a poisonous substance she had sourced online.
Beth had been diagnosed with a personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and had been receiving care at Oakwell House, a residential facility for women with mental health issues. Her mother, Shelley Macpherson, revealed that the care provided to Beth deteriorated significantly in the months leading up to her death, which had a severe impact on her mental state.
The inquest, held at Nottingham Coroner’s Court, heard that key decisions to reduce Beth’s support were made without fully understanding her needs, leading to feelings of abandonment and rejection. The coroner, Laurinda Bower, highlighted that these feelings played a significant role in Beth’s decision to end her life. The court also learned that Beth had meticulously followed online instructions to obtain and use the substance that ultimately caused her death.
Shelley Macpherson expressed her devastation over the inquest’s findings, stating that the failings were far worse than she had ever imagined. She criticized the lack of communication between agencies involved in her daughter’s care and urged for improvements to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Leigh Day Solicitors, representing the family, pointed out that a misunderstanding regarding the role of a clinical psychologist involved in Beth’s care contributed to the inadequate support she received. This miscommunication led to Beth being discharged from services she desperately needed.
In response to the coroner’s findings, both Creative Care, which manages Oakwell House, and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have acknowledged the need for better coordination and communication among care providers. The family hopes that these revelations will lead to meaningful changes to prevent other families from experiencing the same heartache.