Anna Fields inquest: Staff admit patient care mistakes

An assistant at a psychiatric ward has broken down in tears after admitting mistakes in the care of a patient who died after absconding from the unit.

Anna Fields, 32, left the Peter Hodgkinson Centre, Lincoln, by taxi in April 2014, while staff thought she was on a smoking break, an inquest heard.

She was found unresponsive at home and died in hospital two days later.

Kirsty Nicholson admitted signing an observation sheet without checking Ms Field's whereabouts.

Ms Fields, of Newark Road, Lincoln, had a long history of mental health problems including self-harm and overdose and had been detained under the Mental Heath Act, the inquest at Lincoln Cathedral Centre heard.

Shortly after midday on 18 April 2014 she sent a group text to her family saying: "I love you all very much. Sorry."

It was only later when her father arrived at the hospital that staff realised she was missing and a search began.

The inquest heard from healthcare assistants Ms Nicholson and Eunice Rosa who had recorded Ms Field as being present when she was actually at home.

Ms Nicholson broke down in tears as she admitted signing the observations sheet.

Asked whether there had been a serious failure of care, she replied: "Yes".

Ms Rosa told the jury she had taken Ms Fields and three other patients down to the smoking area.

After smoking a cigarette Ms Fields, who should have been escorted back to the ward, was allowed to leave unsupervised.

Ms Rosa assumed she had gone back to the ward but now believes she hid while the other patients were escorted back.

She told the inquest: "I failed, we all failed and I'm sorry to the family for that."

The inquest continues.