Mental health practitioners did not believe a mum-of-one posed a 'significant risk' to herself in the days and weeks leading to her death, an inquest has heard. Kate Hedges, 35, passed away at Gatley train station in November 2020 having been released from hospital in October and referred to the home based treatment team.
Kate had been described as a 'beautiful and bright person' at an inquest into her death on November 27 2020 at South Manchester Coroners Court. She had long suffered with mental health issues after significant trauma when younger, including being bullied at school and raped when she was 19. She also cared for her young son who has autism.
Her family yesterday raised further concerns that they were not involved in Kate's care and were not regularly consulted by both the hospital ward and home based team she was discharged into. Day two of the inquest in Stockport heard how doctors at the Bronte ward at Wythenshawe Hospital, where Kate was being treated after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, felt her condition had improved enough for her to be discharged to the home based treatment team. This is despite earlier 'manic behaviour' on this ward and Kate going missing when granted unaccompanied leave.
