Moira Diane Parker · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 22 April 2025, I commenced an investigation into the death of Moira Diane Parker, aged 54 years. This inquest was concluded on the 18 March 2026.

The medical cause of death was
1 a Fatal Haemorrhage and Haemothorax
1 b Stab Wounds to Neck and Wrist

How, when and where
On 11 April 2025 Moira was found at Priory Marina River Bank, Barkers Lane, Bedford with stab wounds that were self-inflicted in the neck and wrist.

Conclusion
Suicide - The Deceased intentionally took her own life following a deterioration in her mental health after a decline in her cognitive function.

The Deceased, a Microbiologist, had worked for Unilever for thirty-six years in research and development (“R&D”), which was a job she loved. She had struggled with mental and physical health issues for several years, which included a decline in her memory and cognitive function. These were being investigated by her GP through scans and blood tests. She was placed on Hormone Replacement Therapy to assist with her symptoms thought to be linked with menopause and although she reported some initial improvement when she commenced therapy, her underlying memory and brain function issues continued to exist since October 2022. Subsequently, she found herself under increasing pressure at work. She raised issues about her workload and an increase in her working hours that included weekends, during meetings with her line manager in December 2022, March 2023 and in October 2024 when she said she reported that was struggling to keep up with workload. A marked change in her demeanour was noticed by management in January 2025 where she appeared withdrawn and anxious. On the 5 February 2025 she contacted her GP through an eConsult reporting an escalation of her memory issues, panic attacks and feelings of being unable to cope, burnt out, the following day she certified herself sick from work. Although she was open about her health issues and work-related pressures, an occupational health referral was not made by management until 14 February 2025, after she went on sick leave. Following this, she had an appointment with her GP on the 20 February 2025 where she discussed her symptoms and there was an exploration of possible physical and psychological causes. A subsequent CT scan revealed no physical abnormalities, but her bloods identified low folate and subclinical hypothyroidism and medication was prescribed. A referral was also made to the Memory Assessment Service for further investigation for her ongoing symptoms. She was under the care of the Memory Assessment Service from the 12 March 2025 to the 27 March 2025, on the afternoon of the 11 April 2025 she was found at Priory Marina River Bank, Barkers Lane, Bedford with stab wounds that were self-inflicted in the neck and wrist. Emergency Services attended but her death was confirmed by paramedics at 13:40 hours. She had last been seen at 07:30 hours that morning when she had left her home informing her husband, she was attending her GP surgery to collect a fit note for work. Notes were left.

From the contents of the letters left by Moira and the evidence heard at the inquest, Moira raised concerns over a protracted period of time from July 2022 to October 2024 and a referral was not made to occupational health which would have triggered the use of the stress risk assessment and provided support both for Moira and those within the management team at Unilever, I am not satisfied staff have sufficient knowledge and training about the circumstances in which an occupational health referral can be made and the support that is available.