Family will have to wait for answers over son's death at mental health unit

An inquest into the death of a teenager being treated at a mental health unit in Prestwich will be delayed "several months" after the NHS trust in charge was ordered to produce a report into the incident.

Charlie Millers, 17, died five days after he was found unresponsive in his room at Prestwich Hospital on December 2, 2020 - just weeks after 18-year-old Rowan Thompson died whilst being treated at the same unit. A few months later, Ania Sohail, 21, also died at the unit, making her the third young person to die after being treated at Prestwich Hospital in nine months.

Now, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), who run the site, have been ordered to commission an "external report" about all three deaths by NHS England. A pre-inquest review held at Rochdale Coroner's Court today, March 8, heard that the inquest into Charlie's death could be delayed by "several months" due to this report.

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Assistant coroner Lisa Judge told the court: "The hearing was aborted as a result of NHS England's indication they wanted to conduct an inquiry. I'm afraid I'm not in a position in regards to any identification for a prospected date for the report to be completed."

The court heard a notification of Charlie's death was sent to the CQC, NHS England, and the care commissioners at the time, but it has taken until now for the report to be ordered as NHS England made the decision to investigate the incidents after a letter from his mum Sam and her legal representatives requested an independent review. Paul Spencer, representing GMMH, explained he did not know how long the report would take, but anticipated it