Support worker's neglect leads to fatal outcome for young girl, inquest reveals
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a 14-year-old girl named Ruth Szymankiewicz passed away at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in February 2022. Ruth was a patient at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire, where she was being treated for an eating disorder.
The hospital, also known as Taplow Manor, was run by the Huntercombe Group, now part of Active Care Group. An investigation into the facility revealed serious allegations of overuse of restraint and medication, inadequate staffing, and poor training, culminating in Ruth's tragic demise.
Prior to her death, Ruth wrote a letter criticising the "unsafe number of staff," describing therapy as "non-existent," and stating that staff "literally sleep on their shifts." These systemic failings in care highlight the serious concerns that had been raised by Ruth's parents, who felt their concerns were not being listened to.
During an inquest, it emerged that Ruth was supposed to receive constant one-to-one supervision but was left alone for about 20 minutes, during which she self-harmed. CCTV footage showed she was unaccompanied despite requirements for level 3 observation. Staff shortages led to a support worker, Ebo Acheampong, being moved between wards on his first day. It is now known that he had used fake documents and had been hired under a false name. Sadly, Ebo Acheampong subsequently fled to Ghana and hasn't been seen since.
The hospital was the subject of an investigation by multiple sources, revealing accusations about the overreliance on restraint and medication rather than therapeutic care. Following these revelations and public outcry, the unit was shut down in 2023.
Ruth's parents described her as someone who "wanted to change the world" and had a "huge heart and deep passion." They hope that the process of uncovering Ruth's story might influence the care that other children receive in the future.
More than 50 former patients from Huntercombe shared their experiences about the hospital, painting a picture of a facility in crisis. The inquest into Ruth's death is expected to last nearly two weeks.
As we remember Ruth, let us strive to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again, and that all children receive the care and support they deserve.
- The tragic death of Ruth Szymankiewicz, a 14-year-old girl who passed away due to an eating disorder, led to an investigation revealing serious concerns about science-based treatments, mental-health care, and staffing in the fitness-and-exercise, health-and-wellness sector.
- The inadequate staffing, poor training, and overuse of restraint and medication found in the investigation raised significant questions about policies and legislation in the medical field, particularly concerning mental-health and therapies-and-treatments for eating disorders.
- The public outcry following the revelations and multiple allegations led to the shutdown of the problematic unit in 2023, signaling a call for change in the politics and management of healthcare facilities.
- As we remember Ruth, the general-news media carries on its role in bringing attention to the need for improvements in nutrition, mental-health care, and the overall quality of care provided to children and individuals seeking help in healthcare facilities.
