A shortage of mental health beds and poor communication between agencies contributed to the death of a teenage girl on hospital grounds, an inquest has found. Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, who had a history of self-harm, died in March 2022 after absconding from an acute children's ward where she had been put because of a dearth of appropriate mental health beds.
"If you or someone you love is going to give birth in a hospital, there is a question you need to ask before you go that can determine whether you are likely to have safe care or not," said labor and delivery nurse Jen Hamilton. Her multi-part TikTok videos amassed a combined 300,000 views their first 24 hours. "You need to know whether the hospital you are going to give birth in follows AWHONN's safe staffing standards," she continued.
Along with the 17 Massachusetts hospitals that received an "A" grade, 16 received an "B" grade, 16 received an "C" grade, and four received a "D" grade. Hospitals that have earned an "A" grade for five consecutive grading rounds are recognized as "Straight A" hospitals, to reflect a consistent excellence in patient safety. Six Massachusetts hospitals have this recognition: Brigham And Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Saint Anne's Hospital, UMass Memorial Health - Milford Regional Medical Center, and Winchester Hospital.
A mental health trust says it is planning to install CCTV following the death of a patient in mysterious circumstances. Maria Morris, 44, was found unresponsive at Bethlem Hospital in south London on 21 September 2021 with four socks down her throat, and a large unexplained bruise on her back. She died hours later in hospital from a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.
