‘No beds’ at unit for suicidal man (From The Argus)

‘No beds’ at unit for suicidal man

7:30pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

A nurse told a man there were no psychiatric beds available just hours before he was found hanged, an inquest heard.

Devastated Andrew Whiting appeared at Hove Crown Court yesterday where he gave evidence at the jury inquest into his twin brother Patrick Whiting’s death.

Mr Whiting was found dead at his flat in Highcroft Villas, Brighton, in May last year.

The incident happened just two months after he leapt from a railway embankment.

“It was a hopeless situation we were in,” his brother admitted to the jury.

He told the jury how 43-year-old Mr Whiting was incredibly unhappy in the immediate period leading up to his death.

He described his brother’s behaviour as “worsening by the hour”, adding he was “slumping”.

He said: “He was very woeful and doom-laden.

“If he closed his eyes he had visions of nightmares.

“But he was so sedated he could not keep his eyes open.”

Brother's need

Mr Whiting told how a nurse, Marilyn Agar, visited his brother at his home the day before he died.

He told the jury that Ms Agar said there were no beds available for his brother, who had days earlier been discharged from NHS-run psychiatric hospital Woodlands Unit in St Leonards.

Mr Whiting said he spoke to Ms Agar and told her his brother needed to be “back in hospital”.

He told the inquest: “She [Ms Agar] said there were no beds available.”

A note was read out to the jury, written by Andrew Whiting at the time of the incident.

It said: “He needs several nurses not just me.”

‘Hopeless situation’

Referring to this yesterday, (February 25) he said: “It was a hopeless situation we were in.”

Andrew Whiting told how he found his brother hanged in his bedroom.

He described how after finding his brother’s body he kissed his |forehead and cut him down before attempting to resuscitate him.

However, Patrick Whiting could not be saved.

The inquest continues.

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