Janet Millar

PFD Report Historic (No Identified Response) Ref: 2016-0444
Date of Report 15 December 2016
Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg
Coroner Area Cheshire
Response Deadline ✓ from report 9 February 2017
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
A potential training deficit exists regarding supporting nicotine-addicted and suicidal patients through withdrawal, which could compromise their care in a hospital setting with a non-smoking policy.
View full coroner's concerns
Most of those admitted to your hospital are addicted to nicotine. Some are suicidal. You have recognised that hand in hand with a non-smoking policy it is necessary to break the cycle of addiction and support those who are withdrawing. It would be a concern if there is a training deficit as identified in the previous section and this would need to be addressed.
Sent To
  • Bowmere Hospital
Response Status
Linked responses 0 of 1
56-Day Deadline 9 Feb 2017
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 5th June 2015 an investigation into the death of Janet Esme Millar was commenced. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 1st December 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was that the deceased, whose medical cause of death was 1(a) hanging, had died by suicide.
Circumstances of the Death
The deceased who suffered from schizophrenia had been admitted to the Rosewood Unit of your hospital for rehabilitation. Ultimately she was held subject to section 3 of the Mental Health Act. In common with the majority of those diagnosed with a mental illness, the deceased was addicted to nicotine through cigarette smoking. The inquest heard evidence to the effect that Bowmere Hospital had, prior to the admission of the deceased, adopted a non-smoking policy for patients and staff. The deceased showed no interest in breaking her addiction and quitting smoking although there was evidence to the effect that she had been offered nicotine replacement therapy. There was a suspicion that some members of the nursing staff, although readily enforcing the smoking ban, were not fully engaged in addressing the problem of nicotine addiction and that this revealed a possible training deficit.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.