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Inquest into death of Emma Pring at Cygnet Hospital in Gidds Pond Way, Maidstone

The family of a young woman who died at a mental health hospital say they want the coroner to look into whether she should have been receiving one-to-one care.

Emma Pring died on April 20 at the Cygnet Hospital in Weavering in Maidstone.

The Cygnet Hospital in Maidstone. Picture: Russell Sach
The Cygnet Hospital in Maidstone. Picture: Russell Sach

The 29-year-old had been a patient on the Roseacre Ward since July 2020 having previously been treated by Sussex Partnership NHS Trust in Eastbourne.

During a pre-inquest review at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone today, Christopher Johnson, counsel for the family, said one of the key questions they would like answered is whether Miss Pring should have been receiving one-to-one supervision after she had shown repeated attempts to self-harm in the days leading up to her death.

The coroner has asked for all notes relating to her care from July 23, 2020 to April 20, 2021 to be submitted before the full hearing, which is scheduled to take place with a jury early next year.

Claire Anderson, counsel for the Cygnet hospital, said an internal investigation was taking place, the results of which would be submitted to the coroner when it was complete.

The coroner has also asked to see the training records of two members of staff involved to determine when they last received emergency response or resuscitation training and what that training entailed.

The 65-bed private facility in Gidds Pond Way has faced troubles before.

Two years ago, a mentally ill man killed his father just days after he was discharged from the facility early in an administration error.

Jonathan McMillan, of Barrow-in-Furness, pleaded guilty to manslaughter through diminished responsibility.

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