The mother of a young woman who passed away in a hospital expressed her grief and honored her daughter following a nurse’s conviction for neglecting her on the night of her demise.
Amy Barber, diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and an eating disorder at 14, was moved to Brooklands Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Clatterbridge Hospital in Wirral due to a history of self-harm during her teenage years.
Although staff were supposed to check on Amy every five minutes on June 30, 2022, she was discovered unresponsive in her room.
Nurse Laurence Tchapong, responsible for Amy’s care that night, provided her with a towel at 8:15 pm before leaving. Another nurse, administering medication, entered Amy’s room 25 minutes later and found her unresponsive.
Tchapong, under agency employment, was tasked with conducting “level two checks,” which involved monitoring patients through their bedroom windows every five minutes, as per the Liverpool Echo. The nurse, hailing from Manchester, was also expected to ascertain the patient’s wakefulness and check for signs of self-harm.
CCTV footage depicted Tchapong handing Amy the towel at 8:15 pm. Another nurse, Victoria Connelly, visited Amy’s room at 8:40 pm to administer medication, only to find the 22-year-old unresponsive. Subsequently, Amy was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital, where she succumbed to severe brain injury on July 4, 2022.
During a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Tchapong was found to have willfully neglected Amy Barber. The nurse admitted to not checking on Amy after 8:15 pm, citing other duties and patients as reasons. Tchapong awaits sentencing on September 1.
Amy’s mother, Sue, paid a heartfelt tribute to her daughter, describing her as bright, kind, and exceptionally talented academically. Sue emphasized their close bond and Amy’s altruism as a registered organ donor.
Regarding Tchapong’s actions, Sue expressed discontent over the lack of timely checks on her daughter, emphasizing the necessity of continuous monitoring. She hopes for a fitting punishment for the nurse and lamented having to relive Amy’s final moments during the trial.
For support during challenging times, Samaritans offer assistance round the clock at 116 123 or through their website.
