Investigation and inquest
I conducted an Inquest into the death of Miss Chandni Nigam that was heard at Reading Town Hall between the 27th and the 29th April 2015. The conclusion of the Inquest was in the terms of a Narrative Conclusion attached to this report.
Circumstances of the death
Miss Nigam was a nineteen year old young lady who first showed signs of depression aged thirteen in 2008. The symptoms became more acute she came under the care of the Mental Health Team in the form of both the Crisis Team and Community Mental Health Team. Her parents had arranged for her to be seen by private clinicians and subsequently the NHS Mental Health Team and there was a brief period of overlap of care.
While expressing suicidal idealisation, Miss Nigam had never attempted serious self-harm. On the 4th February 2014 she was struck by a train at Twyford Railway Station.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) During the course of her on-going care, Miss Nigam was being seen by private psychiatrist and psychologist. When she reverted to NHS Mental Health Team Care she still had on-going sessions with the private psychologist. There was an opportunity to gain history and input from the private clinicians as to Miss Nigam’s history, previous treatment and what had been successful and less successful. No attempt to obtain that history or any input from the previous private clinicians appears to have been made. There was an opportunity to obtain helpful and effective historical information that may have assisted in the treatment of Miss Nigam by the Mental Health Team.