Call for answers over girl who died while sectioned

The family of a teenage girl who died while sectioned want "answers and accountability" from care providers, an inquest heard.

Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, took her own life in March 2022 after running away from a ward at Worthing Hospital and into the grounds of the site.

The 16-year-old, who was a mental health inpatient, had run away "multiple times" during her stay on Bluefin ward, the court heard.

At West Sussex Coroner's Court in Horsham on Monday, jurors heard Bluefin was not a mental health ward, but a paediatric ward, which was "not ideal" for Ellame.

There were no spaces for her in an acute mental health facility.

Nancy Ford-Dunn, Ellame's mother, told the court her daughter began to struggle with her mental health when she started secondary school, and was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and dyslexia.

She had been an inpatient on mental health wards, but was released in January 2022 to live with her parents, the inquest heard.

Ms Ford-Dunn said: "In the first discharge planning meeting, we specifically asked what support we would be given to manage Ellame at home.

"We felt that we were not given clear answers and commitments, and that we were expecting too much from services."

Ellame had been under 24-hour one-to-one supervision by a registered mental health nurse on an acute ward at Worthing Hospital when she ran away.

The night before her death she had also left her room and tried to take her own life after realising there was no nurse in her room when she woke up.

Her father told the court he spoke to a nurse on the Bluefin ward when he visited Ellame on the day she died, and they tried to reassure him.

Area coroner Joanne Andrews said the "policies and procedures in relation to missing patients" on Bluefin ward would be part of the inquest scope.

The ward is managed by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, while mental health provision is dealt with by Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. Both of which had been named "interested persons" for the inquest.

Ellame's family said she loved dancing, was "polite and kind", and had a "wonderous and mischievous laugh".

"We miss her very much and hope this process provides some answers and accountability and brings about change for other children," said Ms Ford-Dunn.

The inquest continues.

Additional reporting by PA.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.