Mum commits suicide in Bromley hospital

2:43pm Tuesday 26th February 2008

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A depressed mother-of-three hanged herself in the A&E department of Bromley's Princess Royal University Hospital.

Sonya Wandon, from Orpington, had recently been discharged from a psychiatric unit, but on February 21 she rang for an ambulance to take her to The Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough.

The 35-year-old was in a cubicle waiting for the psychiatric assessment team to arrive when she took her own life.

Staff tried to resuscitate her but were unable to save her.

Her family are now demanding to know why, given her history of self-harming and several suicide attempts, Mrs Wandon was not watched more closely.

Her distraught sister Ilkay Shefik, aged 52, of The Hillside, Pratt's Bottom, said: "I feel very angry. If they had kept an eye on her more closely she wouldn't have done it.

They just left her on her own."

Mrs Wandon, of Cockmannings Road, who suffered from depression, leaves an eight-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 13 and 16.

She was admitted to Green Parks House, which provides inpatient care for people with mental health problems, run by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, on January 23. She was discharged on February 18 and staff checked up on her two days later as part of her care plan.

Mrs Shefik's daughter-in-law Roxanne, 28, said: "She's basically not been well for some time. She's been on prozac since she was 18.

"She was seeking help but didn't want to end her life."

The family say Mrs Wandon cut her wrists the week before while she was in Green Parks House, and claim she used blades from a razor staff gave her to shave.

A spokesman from Bomley Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Bromley Hospitals can confirm that a 35-year-old female patient took her own life at around 8am on Thursday February 21 in the Accident & Emergency department at The Princess Royal University Hospital.

"The Oxleas psychiatric assessment team had been called to the A&E department to give the patient follow-up treatment, and she was in a cubicle awaiting their arrival."

A police investigation found no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

A spokesman for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust said: "Following the sad incident at Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust would like to express its sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.

"Oxleas will co-operate with Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust to ensure the matter is investigated thoroughly."