Alice Figueiredo, 22, took her own life during her stay in Goodmayes Hospital, on 7th July 2015. The NHS trust and manager of her ward are currently on trial for manslaughter charges, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Staff on a mental health ward where an in-patient took her own life “neglected their duties,” a court heard.
Alice Figueiredo, 22, took her own life during her admission to Hepworth ward, in Goodmayes Hospital, on 7th July 2015.
A statement from Alice’s boyfriend, Andrew Gordon, was read out in the Old Bailey by Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting.
Andrew visited her “almost daily” in the weeks leading up to her death and saw staff appearing to “neglect their duties,” the jury was told.
He said they “looked disinterested” and “would not interact with patients,” and the ward was often “chaotic”. Staff could also be hard to find, the court heard.
Andrew had texted with Alice about music in the final hours of her life, before being informed at 2am she had died.
Benjamin Aninakwa, who managed the ward at the time, has pleaded not guilty to charges of gross negligence manslaughter.
North East London Foundation NHS Trust (NELFT), which oversees healthcare in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, denies corporate manslaughter.
The court heard from Aninakwa’s two witness statements, which had been provided to a coroner in February and March 2016.
Karen Robinson KC, prosecuting, quoted Aninakwa as saying that Alice’s safety was “paramount”.
He said his actions “did not contribute” to her death, and he had been involved in decisions to “strengthen” her care plan alongside multi-disciplinary teams.
A statement by Alice’s mother Jane Figueiredo was also read out, compiled from “numerous” interviews and statements she had given.
Alice was described by her mother as an “exceptional” and “very much loved” person. She had been head girl at school, set up a peer-mentoring network for her fellow students, and was a confident public speaker.
The court heard she had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar affective disorder and an eating disorder, which led to her “fatal” five-month admission in 2015.
An email from Jane, read to the jury by the prosecution, detailed an incident where the 22-year-old was told she would “go to hell” if she took her own life.
Jane said this remark “failed to see the merciful compassion of a god who understands suffering”.
She had been working as a hospital chaplain for NELFT at the time of Alice’s death, but resigned in early 2016.
In a separate statement, Alice’s stepfather Max said Alice was being “harangued” and “berated” by staff for her behaviour on the ward, and her parents were concerned her “spirit was being broken”.
He described his stepdaughter’s death as having “left a big hole in my life”.
In a written statement to the coroner, Aninakwa said he showed “no history” of bullying and intimidating patients or “abusing [his] power”. He said her parents’ complaints were based on “unfounded” information.
The former ward manager was quoted as saying he had not “evaded” a meeting with her parents and the team had “attempted many times” to arrange one.
Jane and Max Figueiredo were present in the court room while the statements were read out.
The trial continues.
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