Parents Reveal Despair Over Daughter’s Death As Medical Negligence Lawyers Secure Answers

A teenager took her life following “a lack of safety planning” when discharging her from adolescent mental health services, an inquest heard. 

Emily Burns had been under the care of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) run by North East London NHS Foundation Trust. She had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and anorexia nervosa, for which she had received treatment. 

Emily not reviewed by senior doctor when mental health care transferred 

After turning 18, a decision was made to transfer her care to a GP. 

Emily, of Waltham Forest, East London, was not reviewed by a senior doctor. Her parents were also not involved in the discharge planning. 

The day she was transferred, Emily took an overdose of medication and was admitted to hospital. 

Emily, a sixth-form student and aspiring costume designer, was transferred to an adult home treatment team following the overdose. Emily and her family repeatedly asked for a review of her medication and for psychological therapy.

The day of her death, Emily hugged her mum before school and said she believed her medication needed to be increased as it was not working. She took her life that afternoon.

East London teenager's family ask medical negligence lawyers to secure answers 

Emily’s parents, Renata and Quinton, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to support them through an inquest and secure answers. Irwin Mitchell, alongside Nathan Rasiah KC of 23 Essex Street and Holly Girvan of Farrar’s Building represented the family pro-bono.

Emily’s parents have now spoken about the “despair” they feel over their daughter’s death and are calling for improved mental health care for young people.  

Inquest finds issues in Emily's care

It comes after coroner Nadia Persaud concluded that “there was a lack of safety planning” on Emily’s discharge from CAMHS and “a poor transition” from CAMHS to adult mental health services. 

The “diagnostic work of the home treatment team was inadequate”, the coroner added. 

Charlotte Stawiska is the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Emily’s family.

Expert Opinion

“This is an incredibly tragic case and sadly one of a number we’re seeing where vulnerable young people with mental health difficulties haven’t received the care they deserve.

“For approaching 18 months Renata, Quinton and the rest of Emily’s family have held a number of concerns about the events that unfolded in the lead up to her death. They were left not only trying to grieve for Emily but also potentially facing a complex inquest system alone where the health providers involved in Emily’s care would have access to their own legal teams to represent them.

“While we’re pleased that we have been able to provide Emily’s family with the answers they deserve, nothing will make up for the anguish and pain they continue to face.

“Some of the evidence heard during the inquest is extremely worrying. It’s now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety for others and stop young and vulnerable teenagers falling through the cracks between child and adolescent and adult mental health services.” Charlotte Stawiska

Mental health: Emily Burns' story

Emily was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. After being told the condition may cause her to gain weight Emily became distressed. She was referred to the eating disorder service run by the Trust in November 2021. After suffering a panic attack, she was referred to CAMHS at the end of 2021. 

Emily started taking antidepressants in February 2022. She was referred for psychotherapy that April. However, Emily “slipped through the net”. Following a “lengthy delay” she “received a very short course of therapy” which was “inadequate for her needs” in January 2023, the coroner found. 

On 27 March, 2023, following a review by a junior doctor she was discharged from CAMHS. That afternoon she took an overdose.

Emily was transferred to the adult Home Treatment Team, She received one medical review on 31 March, 2023. 

Emily said her medication was not working and a plan was put in place for her to re-start her antidepressants, to be referred for psychotherapy and to receive regular home visits from the mental health staff. 

Emily and her parents kept chasing for a psychology assessment. On 5 May 2023, she received an initial assessment, but this was not from a fully qualified therapist, the inquest was told. 

Four days later, 9 May, 2023, Emily died by suicide. 

Ms Persaud recorded a narrative conclusion that Emily took her own life whilst suffering from a partially treated mental health disorder. 

The coroner stated that she “heard evidence relating to failings in the care provided to Emily” but did not find on the balance of probabilities that any aspect of care directly contributed to the teenager’s death.  

Parents pay tribute to beautiful daughter and call for improved mental health care for young people

In a joint statement after the hearing Emily’s parents said: “Emily was a very talented person. She was passionate about music, she played cello and electric guitar. She would spend hours creating her art at home. Emily loved nature, long walks in the forest and was also passionate about horse-riding.

“Emily wanted to be a costume designer for the theatre and film industry. She was a very hard-working person always dedicated to her work and was about to start university.

“Emily was beautiful inside and out but sadly really struggled with her mental health. We tried everything we could to get her the care she deserved but she tragically took her own life leaving us behind in agony, pain and despair. 

“Our family and our lives have been broken into pieces and we now feel an emptiness which cannot be rebuilt.

“Emily had so much promise and all the hopes, plans and dreams she had will never get to be fulfilled. We’ve experienced the greatest loss that a mum and dad would ever have - the
loss of a child. The circumstances around Emily’s death will affect us for the rest of our lives. 

“We’ll always be upset and angry at how when Emily needed the help the most, we feel she was let down. 

“The inquest and listening to the evidence as to why Emily died has been traumatic, but it was something we needed to do to at least honour her memory. We’re incredibly grateful to our legal team for their support. Legal Aid is limited for inquests and we did not qualify. Had they not agreed to represent us we’d have struggled with navigating the inquest process while still struggling to come to terms with our daughter’s death.

“All we can hope for now is that by sharing our story we can help improve care for others. It’s too late for our family but hopefully not for other families.”

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in establishing answers for families with care concerns at our dedicated medical negligence section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500100.