AN INDEPENDENT review of a psychiatric unit in Bournemouth following the death of a teenage boy has led to a “number of changes” at the site.

Henry David Vickery, who was 17, was found hanged on February 12, 2019, at Pebble Lodge in Alumhurst Road, Alum Chine.

Shortly after his death, an inquest was opened into the circumstances and it was reported the NHS trust that runs the unit had launched an “independent expert investigation”.

A pre-inquest review (PIR) hearing at Bournemouth town hall on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, heard that the review had been completed and changes had been made by Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust.

Providing a statement to the Daily Echo after the hearing, Dawn Dawson, Dorset HealthCare’s director of nursing, therapies and quality, said: “Following Henry’s tragic, unexpected death, we commissioned an independent review so that we could fully understand the circumstances of what happened.

“We are committed to learning from serious incidents and have already implemented a number of changes within the trust as a result of the review.

“When the inquest is complete, we will carefully consider the coroner’s findings to determine whether further changes to our practices are required.”

The opening of the inquest was told Mr Vickery, who lived in Gillingham, had been an inpatient at the mental health facility.

Staff checked on him at midnight on the day of his death. At 1am, another check was carried out, but Mr Vickery was not in bed. He was found hanged in a bathroom by staff.

Last week’s PIR, which was presided over by assistant coroner for Dorset Brendan Allen, involved legal representatives for Mr Vickery’s parents and Dorset HealthCare discussing specific areas that will be included in the inquest.

Mr Allen provisionally scheduled the full hearing to start on December 7, with it set to run over several days.

He said given the likelihood that social distancing measures could still be in place, some witnesses may appear via video link and numbers in the court room could be restricted.

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