Partner of Nathan Cunliffe takes Hollins Park Hospital legal action

Nathan Cunliffe, of Bewsey, who had been known to mental health services since September 2018, went missing from his home for five days over Christmas 2021.

He was found sleeping rough and was taken to A&E before being transferred to Hollins Park Hospital in Winwick, where he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983.

During the evening of January 11, 2022, Nathan absconded from the hospital by climbing over the eight-foot garden fence unaided.

His body was found on the railway line between Hollins Park and Warrington Bank Quay. He was aged just 28 when he died.

Following Nathan’s death, his partner Lauren Sayburn instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and secure the future of the couple’s two children.

An inquest jury at Warrington Coroner’s Court in February this year concluded Nathan died from suicide.

However, the court also identified that there had been an insufficient risk assessment of the garden at the hospital, as well as an inappropriate staff-to-patient ratio within the area.

Lauren, aged 30, has now launched legal action against Hollins Park Hospital.

She is also using Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness of mental health issues and campaign for improvements to help those who need the support and prevent future deaths.

Ayse Ince, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Lauren, said: “The past two-and-a-half years have been incredibly difficult for Lauren, as she tries to come to terms with losing Nathan so tragically and suddenly.

“While the inquest found issues with the garden area at Hollins Park, Lauren continues to have a number of questions over what happened to Nathan and the care he received prior to his death.

“We are determined to investigate Lauren’s concerns and provide her with the answers she deserves, so that all lessons possible can be learned to improve patient safety.

“People with mental health illnesses are some of the most vulnerable in society, and they should always receive the highest standard of care and support.”

Nathan was employed as a scaffolder for many years, but prior to his death, he had been mostly working in short-term jobs.

Following his initial contact with mental health services in 2018, he had further contact between November 2019 and January 2020.

He was admitted to the Austen Ward at Hollins Park Hospital on December 30, 2021, but he was found dead less than two weeks later.

Lauren said: “It is approaching three years since we lost Nathan, but the pain we feel over his death still feels as raw as it did back then.

Lauren Sayburn with partner Nathan Cunliffe and their son Harrison (Image: Supplied)

“I still struggle to think how our boys will have to grow up without him by their side helping them to navigate through life.

“When Nathan began struggling with his mental health, it was awful, and I wanted him to get all the help he needed.

“I will never forget how I felt being told he had died. My whole world fell apart, and life from that moment has never been the same, nor will it be again.

“I know nothing will ever bring Nathan back, but I would hate for anyone else to go through what we are.

“I hope by raising awareness, if it helps one person, then Nathan’s death will not have totally been in vain.”

Concluding the inquest, area coroner Victoria Davies ruled that, from the evidence heard, Nathan received an ‘appropriate level of care and attention’ at Hollins Park Hospital.

It was found that there was an ‘insufficient risk assessment of the garden area and environment and an inappropriate staff to patient ratio while on garden leave’.

But Coroner Davies added: “We do not consider the above to be direct contributing factors to Nathan’s death, which we conclude from the evidence is to be suicide.”

A spokesman for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Hollins Park Hospital, said: “Our sincere condolences go out to the friends, family and loved ones of Mr Cunliffe following this tragic incident. 

"The trust fully investigated Mr Cunliffe’s care while an in-patient at Hollins Park Hospital, and following his death, as previously reported, identified a number of areas where the service could be improved.

"Appropriate action has been taken to address these, including adding anti-climb fencing and reviewing care practices.

"We are unable to provide any further comment as we do not want to prejudice any claim against the trust.”

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and charities and those bereaved by suicide are encouraging people to talk more openly about the topic.

They are also providing individuals with an opportunity to express how they feel and to reach out for the support that they need.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, or you are struggling with your mental health, help is available.

Please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org

For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice, you can also call PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org