Deaths of more than 1,000 people “not investigated by NHS”

Stress - Mental Healthsource: ITV News
published: 11 December 2015

A new report says that the unexpected deaths of more than 1,000 people have not been investigated by the NHS.

“They ignored him and they ignored us”. That’s the claim tonight from the parents of a man who they believe was failed by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Mark O’Shaugnessy told health professionals he wanted to kill himself and hurt his mother. Instead of being admitted to a psychiatric ward, he was allowed to return home where he committed suicide.

His mother Julie spoke out following yesterday’s revelation that the Trust has failed to investigate hundreds of unexpected deaths.

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Red Alert HELP! pilot Online Information Portal now open

Portal - RedAlert Supportsource: Red Alert HELP!
published: 10 October 2015

Red Alert HELP! provides an interactive online advice portal available 24/7 x 365 to help you find the information, services or support that you need. Primarily featuring services in the West Midlands, there is also information on national services, campaigns and support initiatives.

The portal consists of a type-recognition system that will find key words as visitors type into the search box, and then present answers or solutions to the query. Visitors can also submit tickets (queries / requests).

The portal will be continuously updated in close consultation with third parties which include collaborators or partners within the voluntary, statutory and social enterprise sectors.

When this facility goes fully live (in 2016 we hope) it will also have a user forum to encourage discussion and support with the Red Alert HELP! team and between other forum users.

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Mothers and sons. On children who have died in UK prisons

Police Cell Victimsource: The Justice Gap
published: 24 June 2015

Joseph Scholes and Adam Rickwood died within weeks of being placed in penal institutions. Carolyne Willow met the boys’ mothers, and tells their stories in her shocking book, Children Behind Bars.

Joseph’s story:
Joseph Scholes loved Lego. Every Christmas he would ask for the biggest set, the castle or the pirate galleon, and spend the day building. Joseph was one of four children, he belonged to a close family: they ate meals together around the kitchen table, had regular holidays and enjoyed each others’ company.

He was born in Sale, Greater Manchester, on 20 February 1986. His mother told me Joseph was quite a large baby and “very, very beautiful”.

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