Woman, 25, found hanged after her treatment for depression was delayed because medical notes were sent by post and not email
The NHS failed in their duty of care to Dionne Corbett, claim her family
A DEPRESSED mum-of-one died because of delays caused by NHS red tape - despite "begging" for help just days before her death, her family have claimed.
Dionne Corbett, 25, was described as the "life and soul of the party" - but was allegedly let down by her local hospital and mental health services.
An inquest into her death found that there were delays in her treatment, which meant that her GP did not have the paperwork on her latest hospital visit when he saw her three days before she killed herself.
Ms Corbett, from Breightmet near Bolton, was found hanged at her Winchester Way home on February 26.
Four days before she died she injected herself with adrenaline and was admitted to hospital – but left before a doctor first called for her 40mins later.
The next day she visited her GP, which resulted in him arranging further contact with specialists, but she killed herself before those meetings could have been arranged.
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The single mother's family say not enough was done to support her.
Assistant coroner Rachael Griffin, sitting at Bolton Coroner's Court said that she could not understand why "in this day and age" an email had not been sent when a letter failed to arrive.
It was revealed that if a patient's practice had joined a data management hub – like those located in Bolton – their hospital attendance notes are automatically transferred within four hours of discharge. Otherwise they are printed and posted to GPs.
It meant that when she went to discuss her mental health with a GP the day after her hospital visit the important medical notes had not yet arrived by letter.
The GP faxed a referral form to the local mental health trust under an 'urgent' classification but said in hindsight his assessment would have been the same even if he had had the notes.
Miss Griffin said: "In this day and age digitally is a lot quicker and for the care of a patient and prevention of a death or a missed opportunity of treatment electrically would be safer.
"This concerns me, and it concerns me the there could be the death of somebody in the future."
However Royal Bolton Hospital gave assurances to Miss Griffin that their system was undergoing an overhaul that started in Manchester, and that "steps would be taken" in the meantime.
Miss Griffin found that there was "no evidence of neglect" with regards to Ms Corbett's death and she recorded a narrative verdict that "Dionne died as a consequence of self-suspension by ligature in circumstances where her intention remains unclear."
Speaking at the inquest her aunt Debbie Wilcock, said that the death of her mother and father within weeks of each other in 2013 had a 'significant impact' on her life.
The "fit and healthy" single mum loved going to the gym, and planned on a future in health and beauty her aunt told the court.
She said: "I feel that she was let down. The NHS failed in their duty of care to Dionne, they had every warning sign there.
"On two consecutive days she's gone and tried to get help.
"She must have been desperate for the help.
"How bad do you have to be to get a mental health worker to help you? It's unbelievable."
The last time Dionne was heard from was at around 12pm on February 25 2016, before she was found hanged from the banisters of her home the following day.
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