Teen's mental health issues led her to self harm at Sussex hospital, inquest finds

A jury has concluded that an 18-year-old patient at a Sussex mental health clinic died as a result of her mental health issues which led her to self harm.

Morghana Woodburn was pronounced dead in her bedroom at Meadowfield Hospital in Arundel Road, Worthing, at 5.43pm on Tuesday, January 9.

A inquest into her death was opened at Crawley Coroners Court on Monday (November 5).

Worthing teen who died at mental health clinic remembered as '˜kind and caring'

On Wednesday, the jury found the cause of death to be compression of the neck, while noting Morghana’s diagnosis of emerging emotionally unstable personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The court had previously heard that Morghana had been in the care system for several years when she was admitted to hospital following a suicide attempt in May 2017.

She remained in various hospitals, either sectioned or as a voluntary patient, until her death.

Her older sister, Amberley Woodburn, described her as ‘loving person’ and a ‘wonderful sister’, who had good days and bad days and was trying to get better.

Her social worker, David Christie Davis, said Morghana had a ‘great sense of humour’ and loved horse riding and baking cakes.

At the inquest yesterday, Penelope Schofield, senior coroner for West Sussex, gave a summary of the evidence heard over the last two days.

She said Morghana was moved seven times between four different hospitals over the nine months leading up to her death.

The court had heard from Zoe Greatorex, charge nurse, that Morghana was moved between acute and intensive wards and that these moves were necessary due to the deterioration in her mental health.

Sarah Godfrey, Morghana’s personal adviser from the leaving care team at West Sussex County Council, said Morghana was ‘extremely keen’ to plan for her accommodation for when she was well enough to leave the hospital and was ‘desperate’ for somewhere to call home.

But Ms Godfrey said planning ahead was ‘extremely difficult’ because the adult mental health team required her to have had a period of stability before plans could be made about where she would go.

At no point in her stay did she present stability and at no point was leaving a possibility, Ms Schofield said.

Morghana was admitted to the Maple ward at Meadowfield Hospital on December 19.

Dr Anthony Ahwe, consultant psychiatrist at Meadowfield Hospital, said Morghana, who experienced distressing pseudo hallucinations and dissociation, was put on general observations, meaning she was checked on hourly.