Health authorities contacted around concerns while murdered Katie Simpson was being treated in Altnagelvin Hospital, passed responsibility for answers to various agencies before landing back to the Health Trust who have consistently refused to address enquiries.
However, after previously unanswered questions were published, the Western Health and Social Care Trust have since issued a statement in terms of some points.
Katie died on August 9, 2020 after her sister’s partner Jonathan Creswell claimed to have rescued her from a suicide attempt, when in fact she had been raped and murdered.
It would be months before a PSNI investigation was launched leading to Creswell’s arrest for murder then years before he went on trial in April but found dead after the first day.
During those years the Western Trust were quizzed on Katie’s time in hospital including recently if a Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) had been declared, due to claims that staff trying to raise concerns were told to ““stop acting like police officers”.
They were also asked about Creswell’s living arrangements in sharing a small house with his partner Christina, their two small children, Katie and another woman Rose de Montmorency-Wright (who became a co-defendant in the case) given his convictions for serious violence against women.
Having rebuffed enquiries due to live proceedings, these were resubmitted after Creswell’s trial collapsed again asking on an SAI given Katie’s presentation as an alleged hanging victim; refusal to allow concerns to be highlighted with PSNI; 18 previous hospital admissions for horse falls in general presented by Creswell, and the failure of appropriate records for postmortem, contributing to a flawed outcome.
As before there was no comment due to the “ongoing coroner’s case”.
Consequently, the Department of Health was asked to review the Trust’s conduct including staff being ignored: the appropriateness of Creswell visiting Katie throughout considering strict protocols and Covid restrictions: Katie’s numerous hospital admissions and safeguarding in terms of Creswell’s living arrangements.
The Public Health Agency were asked if an SAI was declared, with a spokesperson instructing this enquiry should go to the Strategic Planning and Performance Group who In turn directed all media communication to the Department of Health.
A reply from the Department referred to the Western Trust response with, “Nothing further to add.”
It was pointed out the enquiry was specific to concerns within the Trust therefore referring or indeed deferring to their reply would be at least, questionable, but there was no further response.
When the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority were asked if they will investigate the Trust, a spokesperson replied, “As systems regulator for health and social care services we will consider any relevant findings following conclusion of police and coroner processes.”
However following publication of a number of points around staff concerns, the Western Trust doubled back and issued a statement, rejecting, “Any suggestion that staff were inhibited in raising concerns. In fact, it was clinical staff, supported by managers, who provided statements and information to the PSNI. Clinical staff must exercise extreme good judgement in these circumstances and the Trust considers our professionals acted appropriately at all times.
“The Trust continues to fully cooperate with the PSNI and coroner and will adhere to all statutory processes. The Trust has policies providing directions for staff if they suspect a crime, as do those regulating our professionals. Working in health and social care does not alter responsibility in reporting crime.”
It was pointed out the Trust still hadn’t clarified if there was an SAI and while staff did work with PSNI, it was only after the murder inquiry was launched in January 2021, following a desperate struggle by Katie’s friends and not because of medical concerns at the time.
There has been no further response at the time of publishing.
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