Investigation and inquest
On 4 September 2017 I commenced an investigation into the death of Greg HUTCHINS. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 2 May 2018 20 2018. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mr Hutchins committed suicide.
Circumstances of the death
Mr HUTCHINS committed suicide on 28 August 2017 in a hotel room at Day’s Inn, Corley Services Warwickshire. He had suffocated himself with a plastic bag and helium. Thirteen days earlier he had contact with the Street Triage team and I set out my concerns regarding that contact below
Coroner’s concerns
(1) the staff member who conducted the telephone triage had no recollection of the triage whatsoever
(2) no contemporaneous of the triage were made
(3) no subsequent notes were made of the triage
(4) no update regarding the triage was made in RIO system
(5) the purpose of the telephone triage was unclear – it was described as not being a mental health assessment
(6) Mr Hutchins was from outside the Birmingham area and I heard evidence that no national system exists for rapid information sharing