Crack and heroin available on ward (From This Is Local London)

Crack and heroin available on ward

6:43am Friday 30th May 2008 in Where I Live By Chris Caulfield

A teen admitted to a mental health hospital to find "sanctuary" died from a lethal cocktail of crack cocaine and heroin on a ward where doctors have admitted patients could freely access illegal drugs, an inquest heard.

Richard Murray, 19, of St Margarets, suffered from drug induced psychosis and had already been a patient at Lavender ward, Queen Mary's Hospital, in Roehampton, before re-admitting himself on September 16, 2007, after having hallucinations.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard on Wednesday from out-patient consultant psychiatrist Dr Christopher Kenn.

He admitted illegal drugs were widely available to patients as many were able to come and go as they pleased.

He said: "I'm aware that illegal substances are brought on to the ward.

"We were aware that patients either went off ward to use or brought it back to use."

“It is a tragic reflection on the whole of society as at the moment the drugs are so available including somewhere thought of as a sanctuary.”

Deputy coroner Shirley Radcliffe

At about 9pm on September 20, the teen, who heard voices telling him to kill or be killed and had suffered from ideas of grandiosity, thinking he was a "king", took crack cocaine and heroin with two other patients while under the supervision of nurses.

The court heard they were found smoking by staff not trained to deal with drug and psychosis problems.

At 7am Richard, of Amyand Gardens, was found dead lying face down in his bed.

Richard's mum, Elizabeth, broke down as she told the hearing she raised concerns about drugs on the ward with medical staff who said: "Yes we know there are, but how do we know your son hasn't brought them in himself?"

Mrs Murray added: "He Richard said it was difficult not to use drugs as they were available on the ward."

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Paul Mason said: "A crack pipe was found (in the room where the men were smoking) with a brown burnt substance on it. Something associated with smoking crack or heroin."

Cigarette papers and bongs were also found.

Mrs Murray said Richard, a former Orleans Park School student, changed dramatically when he was 14 years old and started having mood swings and became violent at home.

He admitted taking cannabis and this soon escalated to crack, heroin, ecstasy, cannabis and ketamin.

Deputy coroner Shirley Radcliffe told the family: "It is a tragic reflection on the whole of society as at the moment the drugs are so available including somewhere thought of as a sanctuary."

She recorded a verdict of death by non dependent abuse of illicit drugs.