Jaw-dropping moment NHS nurses braid each other's hair as patient took own life

05 November 2023 , 19:43

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Jaw-dropping moment NHS nurses braid each other's hair as patient took own life

A disturbing new video shows oblivious nurses style each other's hair and scroll on their mobiles phones while a struggling psychiatric patient prepares to take his own life just feet away.

An inquest has heard how Brendan McFarlane, 20, should have been under constant observation but died four days after being admitted to The Harbour, a 154-bed mental health facility in Blackpool in October last year. CCTV footage shows NHS nurses vaping as they plait their hair and neglect their duties.

The video, released as part of an inquest into his death, was captured while the young man was planning his suicide. He had been classified as Level 3 in terms of risk and over the one-hour period before he was found unresponsive, the nurses watched him for less than three minutes.

Bren McFarlane took his own life at a psychiatric hospital (LancsLive/MEN)

The inquest was told Bren, as he was known to friends and family, had waited three weeks for a bed on a mental health unit to become available after a psychiatrist requested he urgently be moved to a "place of safety". When Bren, who had a history of self-harm and suicide attempts, was assessed by the psychiatrist at his home in Accrington the doctor deemed that he was a "risk to himself".

During the second day of the five day inquest into his death, jurors watched CCTV footage from inside Bren's room as well as the nurses' station room which has a window to allow for regular observations. Jurors were told although Bren's personal belongings had been recorded on his admission to The Harbour, he had managed to keep an item which was not logged.

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For a period of 20 minutes, during which no observations of Bren were made, he used the item in his en-suite bathroom as he went on to take his own life. In the one-hour period before 10.29am, when Bren was found unresponsive, staff had spent less than three minutes observing him, reported LancsLive.

A coroner released footage shown at the inquest to highlight the level of neglect

Bren's mum Gail Rawlinson, who saw the footage for the first time during the inquest on Tuesday (October 17), broke down as the clip showed one nurse doing a colleague's hair and another nurse using her mobile phone. At 9.35am, one minute after Bren began to create the item he used to take his own life, the footage shows one nurse sat on a desk and scrolling through her phone. At 9.38am another nurse spends several minutes doing her colleague's hair.

At 10.16am, he went into his bathroom and was found there, unresponsive, at 10.29am. He was resuscitated and taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but treatment was withdrawn when doctors discovered he had suffered a brain stem death due to a lack of oxygen. Bren, who died on October 29, was posthumously awarded the Order of St John which honours donors and their families who donate their organs to save and improve the lives of others.

Detective Inspector Steven Montgomery from Blackpool Police was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Bren's death. DI Montgomery confirmed Bren had not been searched on arrival at The Harbour. Barrister Laura Nash, who is representing Bren's family during the inquest, asked DI Montgomery if he knew what websites or apps had been accessed by the nurse who was seen on her phone. He suggested "social media" but this has not been confirmed.

The psychiatrist who assessed Bren on several occasions in October, and who requested an urgent bed at a mental health unit, was asked to comment on whether his three-week wait for a placement is common. The doctor said: "It does happen frequently. It is mostly with male patients; it's easier to find a bed for female patients. It's a very common occurrence."

The psychiatrist said that prior to his admission to The Harbour, Bren had been exhibiting symptoms of psychosis, had not been eating or drinking and was displaying signs of paranoia and impulsivity. Bren, who had previously been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, also had a history of suicide attempts and staff at the supported accommodation where he lived had seen a meat cleaver in his room. The inquest is expected to continue until Friday.

If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans in the UK operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.

Amy Fenton