A healthcare assistant who did not check on a patient who took her own life has been jailed for negligence.
Rebecca Welch was tasked with checking on the welfare of Amelia Rose, 31, every 10 minutes at the Millbrook Mental Health Unit, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on 31 January 2020.
Welch was told to check from 13:00 GMT, but CCTV showed she failed to carry out any checks before Ms Rose was found at 13:53 and taken to hospital, where she died the next day.
At Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, the 30-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison.
Welch, of Laurel Close, Shirebrook, falsely recorded the observations every 10 minutes in a log, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
Police said an inquest in 2022 found Ms Rose had most likely died by her own hand, but could not determine her intent.
Welch later admitted one count of wilful neglect by a care worker.
In a statement, Ms Rose’s parents said their “beautiful, fun-loving, caring and intelligent daughter” died “in what should have been the prime of her life”.
They added: “Amelia would have had her whole life ahead of her if she had been given the help she so desperately pleaded for, but in three short days of admission to Millbrook, due to the complete lack of care by Rebecca Welch, she was left to die unnecessarily.
“We will never see the wonderful person she would have become, a loving daughter, sister, aunty and potentially a mother. Our lives will never be the same again.”
Det Insp Clare Gibson said her thoughts were with Ms Rose’s family.
She added: “Welch’s failure to carry out mandatory observations, lost any opportunity to prevent Amelia taking these actions or possible interventions to save her life.
“The creation of false records in an attempt to cover her back was particularly damning.”
If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, the BBC Action Line has information about services that can provide support and advice.
