Michelle Sparman
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Mum, 48, Tragically Takes Her Own Life on NHS Ward After Shocking ‘Grave Error’ by Staff!

Michelle Sparman, 48, from Battersea in southwest London, tragically died four days after attempting to take her own life at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton. The personal trainer and part-time Met Police call dispatcher was rushed to the A&E at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on August 21, 2021, following an overdose. She was subsequently admitted voluntarily to the locked female-only Rose Ward at Queen Mary’s.

During her admission, Michelle was categorized as a ‘red’ patient for her first 72 hours, a protocol intended to ensure comprehensive monitoring and safety. This involves searching new patients for any items that could cause harm and observing them four times an hour. Despite these measures, Michelle was found on the floor of her bathroom with a ligature around her neck on August 24, raising serious questions about the ward’s safety procedures, reported by Metro.

At the Inner West London Coroners’ Court, medical staff from Rose Ward testified about the protocols in place. Psychiatrist Dr. Rose Mbah-Maduabueke stated, “There is a blanket ban on such items coming onto the ward. Patients are searched in an airlock before entering, and prohibited belongings are either confiscated or returned to family members.” However, Nurse Catherine Mhlanga suggested that certain items might be permitted based on individual risk assessments.

Assistant Coroner Bernard Richmond KC questioned the effectiveness of these measures, asking, “If it gets into the wrong hands that would be disastrous, wouldn’t it?” when discussing the tracking of potentially dangerous items. Mhlanga responded, “I can’t answer that,” highlighting gaps in the ward’s security protocols.

Ward manager Meredith Kuleshnyk clarified that patients are allowed to keep certain items if deemed safe through individual risk assessments, though she admitted there was no centralized system for tracking these permissions. “We explored it, but we didn’t hit an outcome. We didn’t get any answers,” Kuleshnyk confessed, acknowledging the difficulty in determining how Michelle accessed the ligature.

Coroner Richmond pressed further, stating, “Michelle is not allowed this item, and she has used it to kill herself. She didn’t have access to this item because she was not allowed it. Therefore, the question is whose [ligature] has she used to kill herself?” Kuleshnyk responded that the search procedures were robust, but Richmond countered, “Forgive me, but as far as Michelle Sparman is concerned, your search procedures could not have been less robust, could they?”

The inquest revealed significant confusion and potential lapses in the ward’s procedures, prompting calls for a thorough investigation. Richmond emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “There is a possibility here that somebody has committed a very grave error.”

Following the tragic incident, Kuleshnyk noted that the ward had implemented procedural changes to prevent future occurrences. “It is something I am very vigilant about,” she affirmed, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to improving safety measures.

Michelle Sparman’s heartbreaking death highlights critical gaps in mental health care and hospital safety protocols. As the inquest continues, it underscores the urgent need for stringent measures to protect vulnerable patients and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

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