An Oxford graduate experiencing a mental health crisis died by suicide after a nurse sent her alone in a taxi to an assessment centre.
Georgina Hodson, 27, took her own life last April, one day after being taken by ambulance to St Thomas’ Hospital in south London, where she was assessed by psychiatric nurse Ifeoma Onuorah.
Following clinical guidance, Ms Onuorah arranged for Ms Hodson to travel without an escort by taxi to the Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) at St Charles Hospital in Kensington.
Instead of completing the journey, the “exceptionally bright” woman diverted the taxi and returned to her flat in Victoria, where she ended her life.
Inner West London Coroner’s Court heard that the nurse believed the facility, operated by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), offered the most appropriate treatment.
However, Ms Onuorah did not confirm with the MHCAS team that Ms Hodson would be arriving.She said she had been led to believe the service had already been informed that Ms Hodson was on her way.
An emotional Ms Onuorah told the inquest: “I’m really sorry. In hindsight, I should have contacted MHCAS myself and arranged for her to have an escort or to travel by ambulance.”
Ms Hodson’s family condemned the nurse’s actions as “reprehensible” and “very lackadaisical”.
Georgina Hodson, 27, was experiencing a mental health crisis before dying by suicide after a nurse sent her alone in a taxi to an assessment centre
She took her own life last April, one day after being taken to St Thomas’ Hospital in south London, where she was seen by a psychiatric nurse (pictured with her mother Kate Grimwade-Hodson)
Her mother, Kate Grimwade-Hodson, said: “Georgie hated MHCAS. I spoke to her on the phone while she was in hospital, and she said she wasn’t going.
“Then she stopped answering my calls. If I had known, I would have got on a train and gone to see her.”
Ms Hodson told Ms Onuorah that she had no plans to take her own life. However, the nurse remained concerned and, instead of discharging her, arranged for MHCAS to assess her and organised the taxi journey.
The court heard that MHCAS had been told by the hospital that Ms Hodson was with them, but received no further information and was not informed that she was travelling there.
She had been described as “ambivalent” about attending the service but was persuaded by Ms Onuorah.
Steven Badger, general manager for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), told the inquest that Ms Hodson should not have been sent by taxi without the receiving hospital being notified.
He said: “There wasn’t a follow-up call. That was the key thing that was missed.
“Someone should have checked with the receiving team. Assuming they knew she was coming was risky.”
Ms Hodson’s sister, Becky Garnett-Buchma, said her sister’s care had been “very lackadaisical”.
She added: “I work in mental health, and if someone who worked for me behaved like that, they would no longer be working for me. They would face disciplinary action and a referral.”
Her father, Nick Hodson, said: “If staff aren’t doing their jobs properly, another family will have to endure what we have been through. It is absolutely reprehensible.”
DISCOVER MORE: White House Mocks The Chicks Singer With “Peanut-Sized Brain”
He added: “They knew Georgie was liable to abscond. They should at least have put her in hospital-provided transport.”
Mr Hodson called police that night because he was extremely worried about his daughter.
When officers Joe Hedges and Gareth Baker arrived at the basement flat, there was no response. After hearing running water inside the property, they believed Ms Hodson was in the shower.
When they returned 15 minutes later, they were able to enter and found Ms Hodson lying on the floor.
An ambulance was called and paramedics performed CPR, but she was pronounced dead in the early hours of April 11.
A toxicology report found that Ms Hodson had taken an overdose.
Coroner Sophie Mortimer concluded that her death was a suicide.
Rather than complete the journey, the “exceptionally bright” woman diverted the taxi and returned to her flat in Victoria, London, where she ended her life (pictured with her mother)
She also found that the psychiatric liaison team at St Thomas’ should have known about Ms Hodson’s longstanding mental ill health, including that she had expressed a desire and made a plan to take her own life. The coroner said those factors, together with the failure to confirm her arrival with MHCAS or provide an escort or hospital transport, contributed to her death.
However, she said SLaM and CNWL had both changed their procedures since Ms Hodson’s death and therefore decided not to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
Addressing the family, she said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences. This has been a very difficult time for you.”
The inquest heard that Ms Hodson was born in Hunan Province, China, and adopted at 20 months old by the Hodson family, who live in Chester, Cheshire.
She achieved top A-level grades at King’s School, Chester, and was accepted by Girton College, Cambridge. After deciding the university was not right for her, she took a year out before applying to Worcester College, Oxford, where she studied philosophy and theology.
Her mother said: “She had a wonderful sense of humour and an infectious smile. Georgie loved playing tennis, running and playing the piano.
“She loved her time at Worcester College and made lifelong friends there.”
She added: “She was kind and compassionate, and we miss her.”
However, Ms Hodson experienced anxiety at secondary school, and her mental health deteriorated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her father described the situation as a “mental health crisis”. She had also been diagnosed with autism and anxiety.
Ms Hodson had worked with young people on their applications to Russell Group universities, but later changed direction and began working part-time as an associate mental health worker for North London NHS Foundation Trust.
She was also a patient representative for the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The inquest heard that she was worried about being evicted from her home because of unpaid rent and believed she would never marry, have children or secure a full-time job.
- For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
FIND OUT MORE: Trey Wright Murder: Almost twelve teenagers ambushed and killed a boy, filmed the act: District Attorney