'Our son's hospital was like a prison'

The parents of a man who took his own life at a private mental health unit have said the hospital was "like a prison" and current patients say "it's not changed".

Liam McGenity was found dead at St Mary's Hospital, run by Elysium Healthcare, in Warrington in 2021.

An inquest earlier this year found neglect had contributed to the 29-year-old's death.

His father, Peter McGenity, said his son wanted to be transferred to a different unit and he was living with the "guilt" that they did not get him moved.

He said: "We think of him every hour.

"We've never, ever, ever, had any anger towards him, just, love, sympathy and guilt because we didn't get him out soon enough."

Elysium Healthcare said the issues highlighted during the inquest had been addressed at the unit.

The family believe the health regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), should have been aware of the hospital's failings.

They are hoping a government promise to overhaul the CQC will improve things for other patients.

The CQC has been told to focus much more on key services like hospitals, after an interim report, in July, warned it was failing.

Liam McGenity was a talented musician and had a first class honours degree but four years ago he was in a mental health crisis.

He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and his family hoped he would get the care he needed.

But they said his subsequent move to an NHS bed at a private mental health unit did not help him.

"We were sold this private hospital, four-bed ward," his father said.

"That turned out to be a converted ward within a medium secure unit which was completely against where Liam should be, and that was picked up by Liam's psychologist during the inquest, because it was like a prison."

The inquest heard that a member of staff who should have been closely observing him when he died was reading outside his room.

The CQC said when it was alerted to the case it followed up directly with the provider to understand the circumstances surrounding Liam's death and whether further regulatory action might be required.

Karen Knapton from the CQC said: "Of the ten inspections of St Mary’s Hospital that have taken place since 2016, CQC has taken enforcement action at six, including issuing warning notices.

"CQC regulatory action helps to drive improvements and ensures people receive safe care.

"The service at its last inspection was rated as good.”

Elysium Healthcare said in the three years following Liam's death "detailed action plans have been fully embedded to address the issues highlighted during the inquest".

This is something Mr McGenity disputes.

"We've got patients and people telling us it's not changed," he said.

"That makes me really angry. There are vulnerable people who are not getting the improvements and the lessons learned to prevent a repeat."

He said he was determined to help other patients, adding: "If we could do something to save one life that would be great if we can make change to help others more than that, that would be just fantastic."

The Department of Health and Social Care said a "healthy" NHS required "strong regulation" and it was reforming the CQC to make sure it was "fit for purpose".

It said the mental health system was "outdated" and was "letting down some of the most vulnerable people in our society".

A spokeswoman added: "We are bringing the Mental Health Act in line with the 21st Century, so patients are treated with dignity and respect, and the public are kept safe."

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