A FAMILY have told an inquest that mental health professionals should have informed them about their loved one making two suicide attempts in days before she died.

Sandra Theresa Waddington was a well known and liked member of the Holy Family Church community in Barrow.

An inquest at Barrow Town Hall yesterday heard that the 66-year-old was found dead at her home in Ewan Close, Barrow, by family on October 10, 2016.

The hearing was told that Miss Waddington had a history of depression, starting in her teens, and was from a loving family.

The inquest heard that her family were not made aware of two attempts to take her own life on September 28 and October 4, 2016, just days before her death.

Family members told assistant Cumbria coroner Robert Chapman that they believed she was discharged too soon and family said safety should have come ahead of disclosure matters, so they were fully in the picture.

The family said Miss Waddington had had good results from electroconvulsive therapy and this should have been offered when she asked for this treatment during 2016.

One of her brothers, David Waddington, who saw her two days before her death, when she was home from hospital, said: “I knew she had been discharged, I offered for her to come and stay with us.

“Although she didn’t like hospital she felt safe there.

“I believe she wanted to go back in hospital.

“If I thought for one moment she was suicidal I would have got her admitted.

“I didn’t feel she was on the verge of committing suicide.

“She had responded well to ECT, she always got better from it.”

Paul Waddington, who worked in mental health services for 31 years, said: “She was very responsive to ECT and improved.

“I have no doubt it would have helped her.”

Mr Chapman questioned the balance of patient confidentiality and a family’s right to know.

Mr Paul Waddington said: “Safety should override privacy, we would not be sat here today if it did.”

Mr Chapman questioned: “If she did not agree to family being told?”

Mr Waddington, said: “It should have rung alarm bells.

“Family are crucial.

“The need for family engagement in treatment is basic stuff.

“You have to have a safety net.”

He added: “The Mental Health Act is there to prevent the vulnerable and Sandra was vulnerable.

“None of the family were aware of the suicide attempts until after her death.”

Dr Miriam Naheed, a consultant general adult psychiatrist, was involved in Miss Waddington’s care from August 2016 at The Dova Unit.

The inquest heard how Miss Waddington felt safe in hospital and could not cope at home.

The team worked to get her used to being in the house again with home visits.

Dr Naheed said Miss Waddington’s pattern fluctuated between good days and bad days.

When asked by Mr Chapman about ECT, Dr Naheed said Miss Waddington had not met the criteria.

“How she presented did not fulfill the criteria,” she said.

The doctor said there were worries about the side effects of ECT, such as memory problems.

The grandmother had trained as a nurse in the RAF before marrying and having children.

She was a retired patient representative for mental health at Dane Garth.

The inquest is due to conclude today.