Nurses missed nearly two hours of observation checks

Wednesday 18 September 2019

The defence is due to open today in the trial of two mental health nurses who are currently appearing before Guernsey's Royal Court for the part they allegedly played in the death of a 22-year-old vulnerable patient, through gross negligence.

Rory McDermott, 32, and Naomi Prestidge, 31, have admitted they failed to carry out six observation checks they were supposed to on Lauren Ellis, who was later found strangled with a ligature around her neck.

The pair deny the manslaughter charge they are facing, which has been put down to gross negligence. 

Lauren Ellis, who had emotionally unstable personality disorder, died early in the morning of 12 October 2017. She was a patient at the Oberlands facility after a voluntary admission. Nurses were supposed to be checking her every 15 minutes, because she had been classified as a vulnerable patient who was at risk of hurting herself. 

But when she was discovered by chance by Ms Prestidge just before 03:00, it had been one hour and 42 minutes since she had been properly observed. Moments after she was found, Ms Prestidge also falsely filled out observation checks, which was captured on CCTV.

The Royal Court has already heard how Miss Ellis' mother had spoken to the ward staff the day before to express concerns over her daughter's mental health, and it was also made clear that staff at the Oberlands were aware of Miss Ellis' bad mental state, and her tendency to self harm. She had first gone to hospital for treatment to a cut on her lower arm. It was the bandage she was given to dress that wound that she used to take her own life while at the Oberlands. 

Pictured: The Oberlands is the mental health facility at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Two key pieces of evidence presented to the court are the CCTV footage of the staff nurse office, which show both Ms Prestidge and Mr McDermott, talking, idling on electronic devices, and eating when they should have been doing the checks. Ms Prestidge had her feet on the desk. Further to that, a text message Mr McDermott sent to Ms Prestidge was read out, where he had said Miss Ellis should have been given Ketamine instead of her medication. 

The defence case to argue why they are not guilty is due to start today. Ms Prestidge is represented by Advocate Clare Tee and Mr McDermott is represented by Advocate Mark Dunster. So far, the trial has had reporting restrictions placed on it which were lifted yesterday.

Neither nurse now work for HSC.

More to come...