Investigation and inquest
The inquest into Mrs Norrell-Goldsmith’s death was opened on the 2nd August 2013 and was resumed on 2nd October 2014 with a jury. It was concluded on 27th October 2014.
The jury found that the cause of death was:
1a – Hanging.
They concluded with the following verdict:
Cherylin Angela Maria Norrell-Goldsmith took her own life.
Circumstances of the death
At shortly before midnight on the 26th July 2013 Mrs Norrell-Goldsmith was found in her cell at HMP Downview. She was partially suspended by a ligature which had been attached to some exposed pipe work in the lavatory area within her cell. Assistance was summoned and CPR commenced. Paramedics later attended but despite continued effort on the part of those in attendance they were unable to revive her.
Mrs Norrell-Goldsmith had been in custody since the 1st March 2012 and had been on an ACCT for almost the whole of that time. In addition, she had had long periods of counselling and, at the time of her death, was receiving Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. She had been a prolific self-harmer whilst in prison and had been diagnosed as suffering from an Adjustment Disorder. There was substantial documentation in relation to her treatment and care.
Coroner’s concerns
1. Open pipe work within the cell
Whilst it may not be possible to remove all potential ligature points within a cell, removal of easily accessible and obvious ligature points may serve to reduce the risk of self harm and suicide to vulnerable prisoners.
2. Multi-Disciplinary Attendance / Input at ACCT Reviews
Consideration should be given to ensuring that all staff, including prison staff, healthcare staff and In Reach staff understand the importance of requiring and providing multi-disciplinary attendance, or alternatively, multi-disciplinary input at all ACCT reviews.
3. Retention of Primary Source Data within the Phoenix Programme
Consideration should be given to ensuring that all primary source data (ie data provided by the prisoner to the therapist), should be kept either in hard copy format or by way of faithfully recoding all the detail contained therein on the prisoner’s System One record.
4. Recording Significant Medical Events on a prisoner’s Non-medical Records
Consideration should be given to ensuring that all members of healthcare and In Reach staff working within a prison environment record all significant medical events that may impact upon a prisoner’s risk assessment for self-harm or suicide in a place or manner that is readily accessible to the discipline staff at the prison, in addition to any entry made in respect thereof in the System One record.