A mother-of-five took her own life after she was let out of a mental health unit alone to have a cigarette because the NHS no-smoking policy meant she couldn't have one on hospital grounds.
Nicolette McCarthy, 46, died on September 19, 2023, when she was allowed to have 15 minutes unescorted 'hospital grounds' leave. The midwifery matron had been detained under the Mental Health Act at Woodlands Centre in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, where she went to a 'poorly supervised area' on the edge of the road.
Nicolette, from Uckfield, had her phone and wallet with her and almost immediately called a taxi to Hastings station before taking a 20 mile journey to Beachy Head. Her body was found there a short while later.
"Had staff taken prompt action, there would have been opportunities by which Nicolette's death could have been avoided,"
said East Sussex assistant coroner Michal Spencer at an inquest last month into her death. The hearing found that she died following a 'series of failures' in her care. Nicolette's daughter, Elspeth Gamble, told the BBC last month she and her siblings had felt 'cheated out of decades of life' with their mother.
Now her devoted and grieving husband Scott has said he fears that the 'accidental consequences' of the NHS smoking ban could lead to further deaths among at-risk individuals.
"People with mental health problems are some of society's most vulnerable people and deserve the best care possible to ensure they return to their family."
Said Scott. "Sadly, this didn't happen to Nicolette and it feels like an accidental consequence of the smoke-free policy will put more lives at risk."
"Mental health patients have complex needs and their needs to be an understanding of their specific issues and care tailored to them, not a one-size-fits-all approach."
"However, it's not just issues around the smoke-free policy that the inquest raised concerns about and we continue to have concerns about."
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust upheld the NHS smoke-free policy meaning Nicolette should have been banned from smoking on hospital grounds. However, patients were routinely given leave for smoking purposes due to contradictions caused by this policy.
The finding has prompted coroner Michael Spencer - who concluded Nicole's death was suicide - calling for action through issuing prevention reports urging reviews on NHS England smoke-free policies for clearer guidance or law revisions reducing risks for mental health ward patients absconding.
Said Mr.Spencer sending his report towards Health Secretary,NHS England alongside National Institute Care Excellence representatives alike!
Together with Thomas Riis-Bristow representing families devastated over loss especially how granted unescorted leaves led tragic ends believed otherwise still alive today amidst blanket approaches inadvertently risking patient safety compromising supervision levels outside hospitals grounds welcoming coroners reports calling lessons learned preventing future tragedies better protecting healthcare users everywhere nationwide!
Nicolette is survived by daughter Elspeth Gamble aged twenty-eight son Duncan Gamble twenty-five alongside three younger children aged between six fourteen years old respectively left behind mourning beloved wife/mother gone too soon never forgotten always cherished remembered fondly forevermore unto eternity itself beyond mortal coils transcending time space realms unknown eternally existing within hearts souls those loved dearly missed dearly departed soul rest peace everlasting happiness joyfulness serenity tranquility blissful state being eternal paradise divine grace love light surrounding guiding comforting watching over us all until meet again someday somewhere somehow...