Daniel Kirton may have had his ‘right to life’ breached, a pre-inquest review heard today.
A man who died after trying to take his own life inside hospital grounds just hours after being discharged from its mental health unit could have had his ‘right to life’ breached, an inquest heard.
Daniel Kirton, 35, visited the mental health team at Manchester Royal Infirmary on December 3, 2020, before he was discharged.
Tragically, though, after he left he tried to take his own life on hospital grounds, before ‘rolling’ onto nearby Upper Brook Street. He was hit by a taxi at around 11.35pm and pronounced dead in the hospital on December 4.
who was unemployed and of no fixed abode, passed away at Manchester Royal Infirmary in December 2020. On December 3, the 35-year-old visited the mental health team at the hospital.
He was then discharged. Mr Kirton attempted to take his own life on hospital grounds, before ‘rolling’ onto Upper Brook Street.
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An inquest into Mr Kirton’s death was opened on December 23, 2020, at Manchester Coroners Court. A pre-inquest review was also held on November 18 last year.
A further pre-inquest review took place today (March 3), during which coroner Zak Golombeck submitted that an ‘Article 2’ inquest needed to take place into Daniel’s death.
“I’m satisfied there was an Article 2 (right to life) breach of operational duty,” Mr Golombeck said.
The scope of the inquest will look at concerns over whether Daniel should have been admitted to hospital after coming into A&E, his management by the hospital and the mental health trust on December 3 and 4. It will also look at concerns over how three security guards dealt with Daniel on the hospital grounds.
Sam Harmel, representing the family, agreed with Mr Golombeck, saying: “There is no doubt this was an individual who was vulnerable who’d attempted suicide two or three ways on the grounds in the space of two and a half hours after being in A&E.
“If there are situations starker than this (for Article 2) than I’m struggling to see one.”
Interested persons representing the hospital and the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust have 14 days to put submissions to the coroner against it being an Article 2 inquest.
Statements are also being sought from two nurses who were with Daniel for a time outside the hospital buildings while still on the grounds.
Mr Golombeck does not believe a jury will be needed for the trial, however, this could change.
No official date has been set for the full inquest, but Mr Golombeck said it is likely to be after summer this year and will probably take multiple days.
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Source: Manchester Evening News, 3rd March 2022
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