A woman died after choking on a chip sandwich while she was under intensive observation at a psychiatric hospital, an inquest heard.
Kirsty Thain, from Wakefield, choked on a chip butty at Kendray Hospital, in Barnsley, on July 9, 2020.
The hearing at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre heard how the 36-year-old was regarded as high risk due to previous attempts to take her own life.
Because of this, staff had been instructed to keep Mrs Thain at arm’s length while she ate, after she had attempted to choke herself on food twice before her death.
The inquest, which is expected to last three days, heard how Mrs Thain had been voluntarily admitted to Fieldhead Hospital at the start of 2019.
Laura Garfoot, of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement she had later been detained under the Mental Health Act and was transferred to Kendray Hospital in October 2019.
Kirsty Thain (pictured), from Wakefield, choked on a chip butty at Kendray Hospital, in Barnsley, on July 9, 2020
The hearing at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre (above) heard how the 36-year-old was regarded as high risk due to previous attempts to take her own life
The jury was told Mrs Thain was trying to hide part of a veggie burger in her clothing and attempted to choke herself twice before choking on the chip sandwhich.
On both previous occasions, she had been on the highest level of observation and a member of staff had intervened.
Despite staff trying to dislodge the food and give her CPR, she was pronounced dead by paramedics, the inquest was told.
The court was told Mrs Thain had been involved in about 50 incidents of self-harm or suicide attempts while in hospital, 27 of which happened at Kendray Hospital.
On the day that she died, Mrs Thain had been wrongly given 125mg of pregabalin, five times her prescribed dose.
Detective Sergeant James Bailey, of South Yorkshire Police, said side effects of the drug can include suicidal thoughts.
He added that Mrs Thain had been seen by a doctor who concluded there had been “no ill effects” of the dosage.
Dr Piyush Prashar, the clinician responsible for Mrs Thain, also told the hearing suicidal thoughts were a rare side effect and he did not believe the accidental overdose would have dramatically increased her risk.
The inquest continues.
