A PSYCHIATRIC patient, let home from hospital on "red alert" of harming herself , jumped from the top floor of a multi-storey car park, an inquest heard.
The family of 42-year-old mum Lorna Clymo told Bradford coroner Martin Fleming yesterday they had put their faith in the professionals at Bradford District Care Trust, but felt there had been a lack of care.
They said Miss Clymo, of North Street, Haworth, should have been detained instead of being discharged from the Heather Ward at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health while doctors swapped over her anti-depressants. She had also overdosed on 70 tablets and tried to hang herself in the weeks just before she died on February 1, 2014.
But Mr Fleming said he was satisfied that the changeover of medication had not played a part in her death and that she did receive the "best of care" from doctors, who had factored in her desire to be at home.
Miss Clymo's sister Sharon Charlton complained about no one picking up the phone when the family had tried ringing a list of the Trust's out-of-hours emergency numbers to get her help.
Miss Clymo, who was a homecare worker, had been suffering from severe depression and had paid previous visits to the car park in Hanover Street, Keighley, with thoughts of jumping off but had not carried it out, the inquest was told.
CCTV on the day she died captured her driving into the multi-storey at 6.50am, where she headed for the top floor. About half an hour later, other CCTV showed a person falling to the footpath below.
Despite being taken to Leeds General Infirmary, she died a short time later from chest, spinal and pelvic injuries. Post mortem tests later showed she had been taking her medication as prescribed.
During the inquest Mrs Charlton had expressed concerns that the change of medication could have influenced what happened.
She said: "She was sent home to wean herself off her medication. She should have been monitored in hospital. We feel as if she was neglected, there was a lack of care. The community nurses rang her but how can you see down a telephone?"
But Mr Fleming said, after hearing medical evidence, he was satisfied the changeover of medication had not played a part in her death and added: "I'm satisfied she did receive the best of care from doctors and they factored into the equation what she had wanted - to be at home."
He said she had taken her own life.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Andrew Aspin told the inquest Miss Clymo, who had been rated "red" - the highest level of concern - had a "strong drive to appear to be well and be coping" to her family and friends but had felt being in hospital was a sign of struggling.
He said staff did have some concerns but because she was taking her medication, was willing to engage with mental health staff, had a sensible adult at home to look after her, had the capacity to make her own decisions and wanted to go home, she was discharged with support of the intensive home care team.
She also did not meet the mental health act criteria to be sectioned, he said.
A serious incident report was carried out by Bradford District Care Trust which found Miss Clymo did have a robust care plan in place.
However, the Trust has since reviewed and improved its out-of-hours numbers provision so callers can also leave a message if necessary.
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