A young mum died after emergency services took four hours to find her following an overdose, an inquest heard.
Jessica Ellison, 26, called 999 for an ambulance after taking an overdose of prescription medication at her home in Atherton, Wigan. The foodbank volunteer was found unresponsive four hours later and rushed to hospital where she died days later.
Police coroner's officer Marquita Hogan was unable to tell the court exactly what had happened between the call being triaged, and Greater Manchester Police being contacted, as she only had access to the force's understanding of the incident, but she believes North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) were unable to find Miss Ellison at the property.
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Ms Ellison, of Morley Street, Atherton died at Royal Bolton Hospital on May 23, eight days after being admitted into intensive care following an overdose of prescription medication. An inquest into her death was set to conclude at Bolton Coroner's Court on Monday (September 26), but the hearing was adjourned after area coroner Professor Dr Alan Walsh said he was "concerned" over the timeline for NWAS's response to the tragedy.
Miss Ellison had taken her five-year-old son to a Wacky Warehouse play centre on the morning of May 15, before being picked up by her grandad, Chris Roberts, and dropped off at home around 1pm. Police coroner's officer Mrs Hogan told the court that around 30 minutes later, at 1.35pm, Miss Ellison called for an ambulance, telling them that she'd taken an overdose.
The call was not triaged until 40 minutes later, 2.15pm, and GMP were not called to help paramedics get into the Morley Street home, where Miss Ellison was discovered unresponsive, until 5.27pm. Officers arrived at the scene and gained entry around 20 minutes after being contacted by NWAS.
Mrs Hogan was unable to tell the court exactly what had happened between the call being triaged, and GMP being contacted, as she only had access to the force's understanding of the incident, but she believes NWAS were unable to find Miss Ellison at the property.
Ambulance staff checked to see if she was at hospital before calling at her grandparents' house then heading back to her house and asking GMP for help, Mrs Hogan told the hearing. When police called the Royal Bolton Hospital later that afternoon, they were told the "risk to life was low", so did not investigate the incident any further.
Professor Dr Walsh decided that he could not conclude the inquest without hearing from NWAS to explain exactly what had happened during that time, as he was concerned that there was a "missing four hours". Addressing grandad Mr Roberts and Miss Ellison's mum Michelle Sharples, he said: "I have got concerns, there was a period of four hours between when the ambulance service were contacted by Jessica indicating that she'd taken an overdose, and when they contacted the police.
"What I'm concerned about is that there may need to be a review of systems here which might well help others and allow me to refer these matter to the ambulance service for there to be a quicker report and a more positive outcome. That might save some lives in the future.
"I want there to be full information, I want to know the reasons why and what happened between 1.35pm and 5.27pm. Those times are of some concern to me. I also want details of their policy for when they attend premises where there's no response, particularly when the person requesting the ambulance says 'I've taken an overdose'."
The court heard that the foodbank volunteer, who was unemployed at the time of her death, had mental health difficulties and was detained under the Mental Health Act in January. She was discharged at the end of April, and had discussed leaving her Morley Street home with healthcare professionals.
Dr Georgy Pius, a consultant psychiatrist with the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, told the court that Miss Ellison had been an inpatient at the Westleigh Unit in Atherleigh Park Hospital in 2019 and 2020, and had each time been discharged with a plan. Katie Smith, a nurse on the recovery team which helped Miss Ellison after she was discharged, had been working with the young mum to help her move away from the area, and had helped her get past some struggles with her recovery.
Just five days before her, Miss Ellison had appeared distressed in one of their appointments, visibly tearful as she shared urges to self harm and and buy paracetamol from the shop. Ms Smith implemented a safety plan with her grandparents, the hearing was told.
The next day, Ms Smith called again and Miss Ellison appeared much brighter and they made plans for the Tuesday, May 17, to discuss Miss Ellison's move to Westhoughton. Pathologist Dr Sawant listed Miss Ellison's cause of death as combined drug toxicity.
Professor Dr Walsh said he will not be considering a suicide conclusion in this case as there is no evidence to say the young mum intended to take her own life. He added: "She seemed to have been happy when she last saw the mental health team, happy on the days before, and happy on the morning of the 15th. We haven't got any indication of what was in her mind then, and we have the what I believe to be quite powerful evidence that she rings the ambulance and says I've taken an overdose so I'm unlikely to reach that conclusion."
Professor Dr Walsh's decision was supported by Miss Ellison's mum, who said: "It was a cry for help." The inquest has been adjourned until October 11, where a representative from NWAS will attend to give evidence. When contacted by the Manchester Evening News , a spokesperson for NWAS said: "We offer Miss Ellison’s family our sincere condolences, and we will assist the coroner in his investigation; however, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
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