Loved Ones Instruct Medical Negligence Lawyers To Support Them At Hearing

The family of a mum-of-one who died after going missing from a mental health hospital have spoken of their hope that an inquest will provide them with answers regarding her death.

Rachel Jones’ body was found near Ifield train station hours after she left Langley Green Hospital in Crawley.

The day before, hospital staff had lifted restrictions on the 32-year-old’s detainment under the Mental Health Act.  However, Rachel agreed to stay on a voluntary basis for observations due to concerns over her welfare and safety.

Following Rachel’s death in May 2022, her family instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure answers and support them through an inquest.

Expert Opinion

“More than a year on, Rachel’s loved ones remain devastated by her death and the tragic circumstances surrounding it.

“Understandably, they also have a number of concerns about the events leading up to Rachel’s death and whether more could have been done to help her.

“Trying to grieve for her has been made worse for the family as they struggle with not knowing why certain decisions were made. While nothing can make up for the pain and loss they feel, we’ll support them through the inquest, which is a major milestone in providing them with the answers they deserve.

“If the inquest identifies any issues with care, it’s important that lessons are learned to improve patient safety.” Catherine Knight, Medical Negligence lawyer

Rachel was admitted to the Coral Ward at Langley Green Hospital’s Coral Ward, run by the Sussex Partnerships Foundation Trust, on 29 April, 2022.

On 6 May, at 10:48am, Rachel left the hospital to go for a cigarette. She travelled to a friend’s house locally. The same friend, concerned for Rachel’s welfare, returned her to the hospital at 11:49am. Rachel then spoke with the receptionist at the hospital briefly and left the hospital again a few minutes later at 11:53am. She didn’t return.

Around 2.15pm, police officers attended the hospital and informed reception staff that a woman’s body had been found close to Ifield train station.  Staff then realised Rachel had gone missing and identified the body as Rachel’s.

Rachel was a former carer who left her job when she became mum to Tommy, four.  Following her death, Tommy is being cared for by his dad, who was also Rachel’s partner, Tom De Feria, 32, and her mum Lorna Wilson, 58.

Lorna said: “Rachel was a much-loved daughter, mum, sister and partner, and we’ll never forget the love she brought to our lives.

“She was a very bubbly and friendly person and a loved Tommy more than anything. However, she had struggled with her mental health for a few years, so we thought the time in hospital would give her the care and help she needed to get better.

“On the day we were told she had died, our lives changed forever. It’s more than a year since we lost Rachel, but it still feels like yesterday and the pain and grief is as bad as it was back then.

“Trying to come to terms with Rachel no longer being here has been made all the harder because of the many unanswered questions we have about what happened that day.

“The inquest is going to be incredibly difficult but something we need to do to hopefully get the answers we deserve as we can at least honour Rachel’s memory.”

An inquest into Rachel’s death is due to start at Edes House, Chichester, on Monday 26 June and is expected to last five days. Court will not sit on 29 June and the final day is to be heard on Thursday 20 July at County Hall, Horsham.

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