Parents of student who died at mental health ward oppose name suppression

about 1 hour ago

Erica Hume died at Palmerston North Hospital's mental health ward in 2014.

Photo: RNZ / Supplied

Warning: This story discusses suicide

The parents of 21-year-old student who died by suicide at a mental health ward are opposing a name suppression application for one of the medical professionals responsible for her care.

Erica Hume's death in May 2014 at Palmerston North Hospital was preventable and could have been avoided if staff at the unit had correctly followed policies and procedures, Coroner Matthew Bates ruled.

He also criticised the ward layout and found staff were under pressure due to the large number of patients.

An inquest was held into Hume's death in 2022 and during that hearing, and until Coroner Bates' findings were released on Monday, temporary name suppression orders covered healthcare workers involved with Hume.

When the findings were released the Coroner's court advised only one worker was seeking permanent name suppression - the nurse who dealt with her admission.

Coroner Matthew Bates.

Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham

Erica Hume's mother Carey Hume, said she and her husband Owen Hume would oppose this.

They were surprised others didn't seek permanent orders.

"We took that as a pointer that perhaps people are starting to take accountability for their actions."

Carey Hume said in general she opposed suppression orders for those involved in situations that had gone wrong when doing their jobs.

It was unfair for such people to have the benefit of suppression when so much of Erica Hume's life was in the public arena.

"She wouldn't have liked all her health issues being covered at the inquest," Carey Hume said.

"It's out there, and so she's had her privacy compromised. And so why do the staff get privileges that weren't applied to her when she was the innocent party in all of this?"

A Coroner's court spokesperson said suppression applications were usually shared with the other parties involved in an inquiry, to give them a chance to respond.

"Once an application and any responses are received, the coroner then determines if there are grounds for a non-publication order and informs all parties of the result.

"This can be done on the papers or via an in-person hearing."

In the inquiry into Hume's death, among those interim suppression orders previously applied to were nurse Juliet Kereama, who was assigned to look after Erica on the ward on 7 May, 2014, the day she was found unconscious in her room on the ward, and the charge nurse that day, Donna Drewett.

The nurse who dealt with Erica Hume's voluntary admission to the ward didn't complete all the paperwork for this. She had a high workload on a shift where she ended up staying well beyond her finishing time.

A nurse working nightshift, Jaimee Thompson, wrote up some of the admission paperwork, as the task was passed to her.

The day shift staff on May 7, 2014, weren't aware of the full extent of Hume's situation.

Coroner Bates made 20 recommendations arising from her death and Health NZ says it's working to implement all of these.

He found no risk-assessment form was completed when Hume was admitted to the ward and other paperwork wasn't filled out in a timely manner. This meant vital information, such as her suicide risk, wasn't documented and staff on subsequent shifts didn't know she needed close monitoring.

Coroner Bates said Erica Hume wasn't checked on in accordance with ward policy, and on 7 May, 2014, was at one stage left alone for almost an hour.

After Erica Hume's death, and that of fellow ward patient Shaun Gray, by suicide in April 2014, reviews found the ward unfit for purpose.

Funding for a new unit was confirmed ahead of the 2020 election. The $67 million ward opened late last year, and patients moved there in February.

Carey and Owen Hume said Coroner Bates' findings were thorough and covered the issues well, although they disagreed that the response when Erica was found unconscious was appropriate.

They hoped the inquiry would result in change.

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666

Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email [email protected]

What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds

Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, and English.

Victim Support 0800 842 846.

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

OUTLine: 0800 688 5463

Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.