James Alan Tice · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 4 May 2022 an investigation into the death of James Alan Tice otherwise known as Alan Tice was commenced. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 31 August 2022, I recorded a conclusion of Suicide. The medical cause of death was recorded as 1a) Hypovolemic shock 1b) bleeding from deep cuts ████████

Mr Tice was 75 years of age when he took his own life at his home address. He had a diagnosis of recurrent depressive disorder with anxiety features and had suffered with this condition for most of his adult life. He had numerous informal admissions to psychiatric hospitals and most recently was discharged from Birch Hill Hospital in Rochdale in February 2022 following an 8 month admission.

Following his discharge from hospital, Mr Tice remained under the care of the Home Intensive Treatment Service and the Consultant Psychiatrist. By 26 March 2022, it became apparent that he was experiencing a further relapse in his condition. A request for a hospital bed on an informal admission basis was made on 6 April 2022. The first bed that became available for an older adult was on 28 April 2022 which was the day that Mr Tice took his own life.

In addition to the lack of an available bed, the evidence was that Mr Tice required psychotherapy of a type that was over and above the service provided by mental health practitioners offering psychological support on the ward and in the community. The evidence was that a vacancy for the post of in-patient psychologist at Birch Hill Hospital has remained unfilled for a number of months and that a psychotherapy service of the nature required by Mr Tice is not available in the community.

(1) Availability of beds for patients requiring an informal admission to an older adults mental health ward in the area covered by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

(2) Availability of psychotherapy services for older adults in the community whose needs exceed the service available through Thinking Ahead.