A ‘troubled’ Lindley woman took her own life after battling for more than 30 years with bipolar disorder.
And now a Kirklees outreach network has been advised to implement new safeguarding measures.
This comes after Susan Miele, 57, of Fern Lea Flats, was found dead at her home on April 13 after taking an overdose of prescription medicines.
Kirklees Coroner’s Court in Huddersfield heard that she had ended up in hospital 46 times due to the ‘horrible’ illness.
It was described as a deeply saddening end to the life of Susan (nee Marshall) who was a shop assistant before she began experiencing severe mental health issues when she was only 26.
Her husband, Luigi ‘Gino’ Miele, told how she would not let him phone an ambulance and asked him to lie down with her after taking the overdose.It followed her decision to lie to support staff to avoid an appointment for a regular anti-psychotic drug injection two days earlier.
This had resulted in her feeling ‘agitated and shaking’ and was the latest in dozens of occasions in which she had refused to take her medication.
But just weeks before, the support workers with priority charge over her care – the South Kirklees Assertive Outreach team – said they had no concerns regarding her health.
This followed a meeting in which she appeared to be stable and her earlier decision to apply to start voluntary work with the elderly.
It was the last face-to-face meeting with those looking after her.
They had worked continuously with her since she was transferred to their care in 2011 to create new care plans when her needs changed.
This was due to her spending up to several months at a time in hospital after being sectioned due to preoccupations with thoughts or attempting to end her life.
The inquest heard about her swings between periods of apparent good mental health and states in which she became hard to manage and refused to take her medication.
Jenny Jones, who conducted a serious incident report into Susan’s death, said: “The care plan wasn’t followed in all aspects as the team did not ask her every time she was in contact with them about whether she was experiencing suicidal thoughts, but we are unable to say if it contributed to her overdose.
“The team now must record any changes in action plans and the time in which a review into the plan will take place.”But recording a verdict of death by killing herself, coroner Mary Burke, said: “It is clear that she suffered with complex issues, had a troubled life and medical carers endeavoured to support her.”
Her mum, Pamela Marshall, added: “She could be really sweet when the horrible illness wasn’t getting to her and she had really good care by everyone involved so no-one is to blame.”
