AN Essex mental health trust has been warned it must implement measures to prevent staff without basic life support training from working on its wards reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

A prevention of future deaths report has highlighted failings by medics to resuscitate 75-year-old Carol Taylor, but said these mistakes did not contribute to her death.

Ms Taylor was a detained psychiatric patient being treated on a ward at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping, run by Essex Partnership University NHS Trust, when she was found unresponsive in her bed in November 2023.

The alarm was raised, and a number of people attended to try to resuscitate her. There were also some concerns and criticisms of the resuscitation efforts, including those raised at the time by ambulance service personnel.

However, Essex coroner Stephen Simblet said such failings did not play a part in the death.

He added that the trust has tried to improve the situation by providing and prioritising better training.

At least one of those employed health care workers was not up-to-date on her basic life support training.

The evidence during the inquest revealed matters giving rise to concern. Unless action is taken, there is a risk that future deaths could occur. In the circumstances, it is my statutory duty to report to you.

Coroner Simblet said in his report: “The matters of concern are as follows. There is no system that prevents staff who are non-compliant with mandatory training, including basic life support training, from being able to work on EPUT inpatient wards.

This is a particular concern generally, but especially in hospitals such as St Margaret’s, where at least some of the wards specialise in treating elderly patients who are likely to be at greater risk of medical collapse than the general population.

Paul Scott, Chief Executive Officer at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust said: “I’d like to say how sorry I am to Carol’s family and loved ones for the failings in her care and I offer them my deepest condolences.”