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BUCKS: Mystery over patient found in hosptial bath
Mystery continues to surround the death of a mental patient found face down in a hospital bath.
Gillian Brown, 61, was discovered by staff at the Tindal Centre, in Bierton Road, Aylesbury, on her hands and knees, with her face submerged in water.
The Chesham resident had a history of mental illness and was admitted to the hospital, which specialises in the subject, on November 22 last year.
Two weeks later, the former lunch-time supervisor was found dead in the bath, in water which wasn't deep enough to cover her legs.
At Mrs Brown's inquest, at Amersham Coroners Court, today, the coroner decided on an open verdict, after there was insufficient evidence to prove the cause of death.
It was confirmed she had died because of a lack of oxygen to the brain, but it was unclear what caused this.
Coroner Richard Hulett said: "I am having the problem of putting it in any category. I have to give an open verdict. There is only speculation, no evidence."
Mrs Brown had first been diagnosed with suffering from mental illness ten years ago, after the death of her unborn child.
She had twice attempted suicide.
She had jumped in front of an on-coming train, which was able to stop in time, at Amersham Train Station.
And was admitted to High Wycombe Hospital in October 2006 after she also drank bleach.
But consultant psychiatrist Raj Sharma, who had treated her since 2006, said she was taking medication and making progress.
He said: "I believe she was starting to improve at that time and I see it as unlikely that she would have self-harmed."
Fluid was found in Mrs Brown's lungs but pathologist Mavis Mayers said she couldn't prove how the liquid got there.
She said it may have been through drowning or it could have been a by-product of her death, which the body had produced.
Mrs Mayers added there was no scaring on the heart to indicate a heart attack, but did not rule out the possibility.
Mrs Brown, who was born in Isleworth, Middlesex, died on December 8.
Like most patients on the ward, she was on general observation, which meant she had to be checked every half-an-hour.
Nurse Ann Brown found Mrs Brown's body at around 2.40pm.
The hospital staff had been checking on her around every ten minutes leading up to her death.
Nurse Brown first visited her in the bathroom after another patient informed her the deceased had got into the bath with her jumper on.
This was most likely due to a neurological disorder Mrs Brown also suffered from, which made it hard for her to undress herself and bend her fingers.
The hospital staff said each time they visited her she was facing the taps in a normal position.
But the body was discovered face down in "a completely reversed position".
Mrs Brown was then rushed to Stoke Mandeville Hospital by paramedics, where she was pronounced dead.
7:32am Thursday 8th May 2008
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