Mother of woman who took her own life on "death trap" ward calls for urgent change after NHS trust fined £565,000.
The family of Alice Figueiredo is still reeling from the tragic events that led to her death at Goodmayes hospital in Redbridge, London. Twenty-two-year-old Alice, who was struggling with mental health issues, took her own life on the Hepworth ward in 2015 after making 18 attempts. Her mother, Jane Figueiredo, described the hospital as a "death trap" that failed to provide her daughter with the necessary care and support.
The North East London NHS foundation trust (NELFT) has been fined £565,000 plus £200,000 in costs for breaching health and safety regulations. A ward manager, Benjamin Aninakwa, was convicted of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients on the ward where Alice was being treated.
The judge in the case, Richard Marks KC, noted that NELFT's finances were in a "parlous state" and that the large fine could affect its services. However, many are questioning whether the fine is sufficient given the gravity of the situation.
"It was a fatality waiting to happen," said Jane Figueiredo outside the Old Bailey, describing her daughter's experience on the ward. "Rather than being given the compassion, care and support she needed, Alice was failed horribly and experienced a litany of failures that crushed her spirit and ended her life."
The case has highlighted the need for urgent change in how mental health wards are managed and staffed. The Figueiredos believe that patients behind locked doors on these wards are often some of the least seen and heard people in society, and their voices are frequently dismissed or silenced.
In a damning indictment, Judge Marks described Alice as a "beautiful vibrant young woman" who was "hugely talented" but tragically lost her life to inadequate care. He also noted that the accessibility of plastic items on the ward posed a "very serious problem" that should have been adequately assessed and managed.
The delay in bringing charges against NELFT has also raised questions about how long it took for justice to be served. The investigation into Alice's death began in 2016, but it wasn't until September 2023 that charges were brought.
The family of Alice Figueiredo is still reeling from the tragic events that led to her death at Goodmayes hospital in Redbridge, London. Twenty-two-year-old Alice, who was struggling with mental health issues, took her own life on the Hepworth ward in 2015 after making 18 attempts. Her mother, Jane Figueiredo, described the hospital as a "death trap" that failed to provide her daughter with the necessary care and support.
The North East London NHS foundation trust (NELFT) has been fined £565,000 plus £200,000 in costs for breaching health and safety regulations. A ward manager, Benjamin Aninakwa, was convicted of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients on the ward where Alice was being treated.
The judge in the case, Richard Marks KC, noted that NELFT's finances were in a "parlous state" and that the large fine could affect its services. However, many are questioning whether the fine is sufficient given the gravity of the situation.
"It was a fatality waiting to happen," said Jane Figueiredo outside the Old Bailey, describing her daughter's experience on the ward. "Rather than being given the compassion, care and support she needed, Alice was failed horribly and experienced a litany of failures that crushed her spirit and ended her life."
The case has highlighted the need for urgent change in how mental health wards are managed and staffed. The Figueiredos believe that patients behind locked doors on these wards are often some of the least seen and heard people in society, and their voices are frequently dismissed or silenced.
In a damning indictment, Judge Marks described Alice as a "beautiful vibrant young woman" who was "hugely talented" but tragically lost her life to inadequate care. He also noted that the accessibility of plastic items on the ward posed a "very serious problem" that should have been adequately assessed and managed.
The delay in bringing charges against NELFT has also raised questions about how long it took for justice to be served. The investigation into Alice's death began in 2016, but it wasn't until September 2023 that charges were brought.
. Like, she tried to kill herself 18 times and her mum is still saying it was a "death trap" 
. The fact that the ward manager didn't take care of her properly is a huge issue and I don’t think the fine reflects that. It's not just about the money, it's about making sure these wards are safe and provide proper care for people struggling with mental health issues 
. We need to make sure this doesn’t happen again and that we're doing more to support people like Alice 
.
how many lives could've been saved if she got the right help and care on time? £565k just doesn't feel like enough to me... it's a tiny fine compared to how much her family and friends have suffered 
we need systemic change ASAP 
this is such a sad story... £565k fine seems kinda low considering alice's life was lost... the NHS needs to step up its mental health game 
. We can do better, and we should be doing better for people like Alice 
.
I've heard of some bad hospitals before, but this is just crazy. £765k is a lot of money, but what's the point if it doesn't change anything? 
Can we get more mental health support in schools instead? My friends are always stressing about exams and stuff... 
How can they deal with that kind of pressure when they're still young? 
the fact that patients on those wards are often invisible and their voices aren't heard is just shocking 
. And don't even get me started on how slow justice moved... 7 years after Alice's death, charges were finally brought 
. It's a travesty that patients on these wards are often left feeling invisible and unheard 
As a parent, it's heartbreaking to think about all those young people who may be going through similar struggles and feeling ignored or dismissed on wards that are supposed to be helping them 
this fine is literally nothing compared to the value of a human life ... £565k just feels like a drop in the bucket when you consider all the times the NHS has failed patients who have died on those wards 
This fine just doesn't feel right, you know? £765k is a lot of money, but it's not like the NHS trust will even have to pay most of it. I mean, think about all the other hospitals and trusts who are struggling financially... does this fine just make things worse for them? 
. I mean, £565k fine for a single ward? That's not enough when you consider how many lives have been lost due to negligence like this. It's disgusting that it took them 7 years to even investigate, and now they're just slapping on a fine instead of making real changes 
. And what really gets me is that the judge mentioned the NHS trust's finances were "parlous", but that's not our problem! We need better care for people like Alice Figueiredo, ASAP 
and not really holding anyone accountable for what happened on that ward it's crazy that it took 8 yrs for charges to be brought 
we need real change here, not just a slap on the wrist 
. £565k fine might seem like a lot but honestly I feel for the Figueiredos they've been through so much trauma already 
. These hospitals need to be held accountable and it's not just about the money, it's about lives lost and families left with the scars 
. Can't we do more to prevent these tragedies from happening? 