Manchester Hospital Says Sorry For Corridor Death

A mental health trust in Manchester's apologised to the family of a patient who died in a hospital corridor.

Peter Thompson, a voluntary patient at Edale House, was drunk and denied entry to the ward because he refused to hand over a bottle of vodka.

He was left to 'sleep off' his intoxication on a corridor at the entrance to the unit, which cares for mental health patients, as staff believed he would be safer there rather than waking him and him wandering outside.

Nurses and managers were forced to step over him to get into the ward.

He was checked at certain times but Mr Thompson, who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, was found lifeless on the floor 10 hours later.

Nigel Meadows, coroner for Manchester, said following a five-day inquest that Mr Thompson's death was 'wholly preventable'.

A pathologist's report concluded he died from fatal levels of alcohol and anti-psychotic drugs, with liver cirrhosis as a contributing factor.

The inquest jury returned a verdict of 'death by misadventure contributed to by neglect'.

The coroner will write to Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, responsible for Edale House, setting out recommendations to prevent a recurrence, and will contact the Nursing and Midwifery Council calling for investigation into three of the nurses involved.

Disciplinary action has been taken against staff involved and compensation paid to Mr Thompson's family.