'Bright' girl's death sparked unit's closure
Family handoutA mental health unit was closed down amid grave safety concerns weeks after the death of a "creative and bright" teenage girl, an inquest has heard.
Lucy Curtis, 17, died at Southmead Hospital on New Year's Day in 2024 after being found unresponsive at Riverside Adolescent Unit at Blackberry Hill Hospital on 27 December.
Two weeks after the incident, an internal review by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust concluded they could not give assurance the unit could deliver a safe level of care moving forward.
At the opening of Lucy's inquest at Avon Coroner's Court earlier, jurors were told her family described Lucy as "sensitive, generous, creative and bright".
Warning: This story contains distressing details.
Family handoutSpeaking to the jury, Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said Lucy's GP first made a referral to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) on 31 January 2023 when Lucy was aged 16.
She was then an inpatient on a mental health ward at Wessex House, under the care of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
The jury heard there was evidence of Lucy self-harming while at Wessex House.
She spent a short time at home before being admitted to the Riverside unit on 12 December 2023.
The jury heard Lucy continued to self-harm at the Riverside unit and was found unresponsive on 27 December.
She was taken to Southmead Hospital where she died on 1 January 2024.
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The inquest will look at the circumstances of Lucy's death, including the response to referrals to Children and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and information sharing between community services.
It will also examine the care provided to Lucy at the Riverside unit.
Her family added that Lucy was an "animal lover and a massive Taylor Swift fan".
After her death Lucy's father, Barry Curtis, walked to the highest point of every county in England and Wales in memory of her for charity.
The trust has been approached for comment.
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