A mother is speaking out after her daughter drowned while under mental health care, highlighting serious failings in the NHS system
Carlisle: A tragic incident has unfolded involving an 18-year-old girl named Codie Lee Black. She drowned in the bath while staying at a mental health unit. It’s heartbreaking to think about what led to this.
Codie had been at the Carleton Clinic on January 31, 2023. She was a talented artist who had faced years of mental health struggles after experiencing abuse at a young age. It’s just so sad.
During the inquest, the coroner pointed out that Codie was allowed to take a bath alone, even after she had mentioned researching drowning. This was a huge oversight. The coroner ruled it as “death by misadventure” but noted that the NHS had failed her in many ways.
The staff at the clinic didn’t follow proper procedures. An inexperienced healthcare assistant didn’t check on Codie while she was in the bath, and when they didn’t hear back from her, they didn’t even go in to check. It’s just shocking.
Codie’s mother, Helen, expressed her disappointment with the verdict. She felt there were massive failings in the care her daughter received. Helen is determined to seek justice for Codie, who had so much potential.
Codie had been diagnosed with serious mental health issues, and her journey through the system was tough. She had been in and out of hospitals, and her transition to adult services was particularly challenging.
On the day of her death, the healthcare assistant was supposed to keep an eye on Codie but failed to do so. The coroner emphasized that these lapses in care contributed significantly to Codie’s tragic end.
Dr. Rajesh Nadkarni from the NHS Trust expressed condolences to Codie’s family and promised to reflect on the coroner’s findings to improve their services. It’s a step, but it feels like it’s too little, too late for Codie.
