Highgate Mental Health Centre launches investigation into patient’s sudden death

An investigation has been launched following the death of a patient at Highgate Mental Health Centre amid allegations about warnings over her care.

The woman – thought to be in her 30s – is believed to have died some time last week.

The Ham&High understands the centre in Dartmouth Park Hill was alerted to claims that warnings about the patient’s condition prior to her death “went ignored”.

A fellow patient and friend said they alerted staff two days before the death after seeing the woman sitting on her bed “with her dressing gown tie around her neck”.

She told the Ham&High: “Staff went to look at her but after that she seemed to be treated like a normal patient – it’s shocking.”

The individual claims no one-to-one observation – when a patient is continuously monitored – was carried out after she notified staff about her concerns.

While confirming it had launched an investigation into the death, the mental health centre refused to comment further on the case, citing “patient confidentiality”.

It added that a jury inquest into the patient’s death will take place later this year.