Tragedy has struck a family from County Durham with the death of their 18-year-old daughter, Emily Moore, who passed away in a mental health hospital just days after her birthday. The case has left her parents, David and Susan Moore, speaking out about their 'profound sorrow and frustration' regarding the care she received.
Emily was found with a ligature around her neck at Durham's Lanchester Road Hospital on 13th February 2020, where she had been transferred from West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough. The inquest, which began in Crook, County Durham, aims to establish the facts surrounding Emily's death and will examine her mental health journey over several years.
Her parents described their daughter as a 'bright, beautiful girl' who loved animals and had ambitions to become a mental health professional or paramedic. However, they noted that her teenage years were marked by developing mental health issues, which left her feeling 'worthless'. They recalled 'glimpses' of a future where Emily expressed hope for recovery, but tragically, she was unable to overcome her illness.
The inquest will review Emily's treatment from February 2017, when she was 15. This includes her experiences as a detained patient at West Lane Hospital and Lanchester Road Hospital, both facilities operated by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), as well as time spent at a facility run by Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (NTW). The transition from child to adult mental health services was particularly distressing for the family.
Emily's parents highlighted that they had been left with 'profound sorrow and frustration about what she endured', stating that their daughter had made them proud despite facing significant challenges. The inquest is expected to continue for a month, involving various stakeholders including NHS England and the Care Quality Commission.