Nurses sacked after woman's death

A coroner was told instructions may not have been passed to staff

Four nurses have been sacked from a hospital following an investigation into the death of a patient.

Powys Local Health Board confirmed that the nurses have been dismissed from Bronllys Hospital near Brecon after disciplinary proceedings.

A 26-year-old psychiatric patient who was under strict supervision at the hospital was found hanged in January.

The public service union Unison said it could not discuss the case, but it would appeal against the decision.

Dyfed Powys Police say their investigation into the death of Sylvan Money from Presteigne, who had a long history of depression, is ongoing.

Concerns

Officers started their investigations in January and they told the Powys coroner that instructions to watch her every 30 minutes may not have been passed to staff at the change of shift.

Because of concerns about her safety, staff were told to keep an eye on her every 15 minutes, an instruction which was later changed to every 30 minutes.

But Ms Money was found hanged about 75 minutes after a shift change.

At the formal opening of an inquest into Ms Money's death in January, a police officer said it appeared that instructions may not have been passed on to staff at the shift change-over.

Mr Williams opened and adjourned the inquest after Pc Joe Davies gave evidence.

"Pc Davies told me that Ms Money was on a half-hour suicide watch," Powys coroner Geraint Williams said at the January hearing.

"At about 2pm there was a change of shift at the hospital and it appears the member of staff who took over was not told to watch the patient every 30 minutes."

A full inquest will be held in the new year, with 20 witnesses due to be called.