An inquest jury heard that a woman who passed away while being held at a mental hospital 250 miles (400 km) from her home was "massively failed by the mental health system.".
In February 2022, Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal in Stockport, Greater Manchester, experienced the death of Lauren Bridges, a 20-year-old from Bournemouth.
In the words of her mother Lindsey Bridges, her surroundings "did more harm than good.".
Lauren was "left alone, far from home with no treatment," the woman claimed.
Ms. Bridges passed away at Wythenshawe Hospital two days after being discovered unconscious in a bathroom at Priory Hospital on February 24.
Her mother testified during the hearing in Stockport that Lauren had called earlier that day "screaming hysterically, begging me to get her out.".
In July 2021, she claimed that when her daughter was given an hour to pack before being transported to the hospital, she became "hysterical.".
She claimed that Lauren's treatment revealed a "lack of compassion and care," and that this gave her "significant concerns.".
According to Lindsey Bridges, her "brave, beautiful" daughter was afraid of the other patients and "nothing was being progressed quickly enough.".
The inquest heard that despite having mental health issues since she was 15, Lauren was a "straight-A student.".
Her mother claimed that she struggled to leave the house because of her panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
According to Lindsey Bridges, who testified at the hearing, Lauren was first admitted to a mental health facility when she was 17 years old. She was then moved to a number of hospitals that were quite far from her home.
The coroner learned that she had an autistic diagnosis at the Priory hospital.
The investigation goes on.
