The Radbourne Unit Trust expresses commitment to improving care after a young man’s tragic suicide at their facility
Derby: A young man named Massaoud Belkouche tragically took his own life at a hospital. He was just 20 years old. The incident happened at the Radbourne Unit in July 2023.
Massaoud had been struggling with mental health issues for years. His family noticed he was quiet and withdrawn. He stopped attending school at 14, which was a big red flag.
In May 2023, he was taken to A&E after self-harming. He expressed suicidal thoughts and was admitted to the Radbourne Unit for treatment. Initially, he didn’t make much progress.
After some time, he showed improvement and was allowed to leave the ward for short walks. On July 1, he asked to go for a walk again. Staff agreed, thinking he was doing better.
However, during this walk, he saw an opportunity to escape. He ran away, and despite staff trying to catch up, he managed to get to a dangerous spot.
His family saw him in a risky position, but before they could react, they heard a thud. Sadly, Massaoud fell and was later pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
The trust admitted there were failings in his care. They didn’t keep his risk assessments updated, and there was no safety plan in place. This raised serious concerns about how they handled his case.
Coroner Matthew Kewley concluded that Massaoud’s death was a result of suicide. He highlighted the need for better care and support for patients like Massaoud.
In response, the trust has promised to improve its services. They’re introducing regular audits and have appointed a suicide prevention lead to help keep patients safe.
They expressed their condolences to Massaoud’s family and friends, acknowledging that they need to do better. It’s a heartbreaking situation that highlights the importance of mental health care.
