Family accuse health officials of failing vulnerable woman

Friday 26 January 2018

A verdict of suicide has been recorded at the inquest into the death of a woman in Guernsey in 2014.

Mary Machon was 44 at the time of her death. She had had involvement with both Guernsey Police and the island's Mental Health team, under the then Health and Social Services Department, up to the time she took her own life on Sunday 26 October.

Her family claim Mrs Machon (née Davies) was in fear for her life during the time leading up to her death, and say she had asked for help from "staff at Albecq and the CDAT in the week before 24 October". She died two days later. 

In a statement read to the court during the inquest into her death, it was said that "there were no suspicious circumstances" and that a Mental Health review after her death concluded "there were no lessons to be learned and recommended no changes to current practice following the tragic but unpredictable death of Mrs Machon".

Her family dispute that and also said in their own statement which was read to the court that they were unhappy with reports written on her death: "we remain concerned that the later-dated report of the HSSD contains inaccuracies and omissions which are unacknowledged by HSSD". 

Pictured: Excerpt from the statement read out in court during the inquest into the death in 2014 of Mary Machon

The family statement, read out in court by her brother-in-law Graham English, continued by saying the family feel there was a "lack of care in the production of the (HSSD) report, and perhaps a lack of care of Mary". The family statement said they feel there is "much HSSD could have done differently".

Speaking to members of the media after the inquest hearing returned a verdict of suicide, Mrs Machon's family said they are unhappy with the-then HSSD and now HSC's complaints procedure and communication policies. They are satisfied with the work of Guernsey Police however, saying "the police processes were professional". 

Express approached the Committee for Health and Social Care for a response which is below in full: 

"Health & Social Care takes the support it offers patients incredibly seriously. In fact, it is our sole focus. This is a sad and complex case and HSC extends its deepest condolences to Mrs Machon’s family and friends.

"While Mrs Machon was not in the then-Health and Social Services Department’s direct care at the time of her death in 2014, HSSD carried out a review of the support and care it had provided. The report explored events leading to Mrs Machon’s death, her contact with mental health services, contributory factors and lessons learned. It was shared with Mrs Machon’s family in England in April 2016. HSC stands by the report HSSD produced, which was subject to strict governance controls at the time, and supports its findings and recommendations".