A mum who was discharged from a mental health unit one month before her death may not have been given the support she needed to look after her son again, an inquest has heard. Kate Hedges was discharged from the Bronte mental health ward at Wythenshawe Hospital on October 28, 2020, and was found dead at Gatley railway station on November 27 that year.
An inquest at South Manchester Coroners Court, in Stockport, this week has heard that Ms Hedges' family was concerned about her leaving the hospital at the time - having seen her display 'manic' behaviour earlier in October. The family has raised concerns over a lack of communication at the time, including when she was discharged following a decision taken by medical staff.
On Thursday (April 21), coroner Christopher Morris probed the complaints manager who looked into the concerns of Ms Hedges' family following her death. Mark McCann, of Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) NHS Foundation Trust, admitted that patients can struggle to adjust back to their normal lives when discharged from units like the Medlock ward.
