There were mistakes and omissions by Salford health professionals in the lead up to the death of Salford man Craig Creedon last year, an inquest has heard.
Craig, 31, suffered chronic depression for over 10 years after his father’s death in 2004.
He killed himself by walking in front of a train at Eccles station in December 2015.
Craig Creedon and Katie Burke
Craig had been released from the Meadowbrook mental health unit, some half a mile away, just 30 minutes before his untimely death.
Devastated family of Craig Creedon demand answers after tragic death
Craig had been admitted to the mental health unit earlier that day, after being spotted ‘dangling’ over the edge of the 16-storey Floral Court tower block in Higher Broughton.
He was talked down by police officer PC Briggs, who came in for special praise both from the Creedon family and from the Assistant Coroner.
Giving evidence, PC Briggs said Craig had climbed onto the roof of the high-rise “to be closer to his dad,”
Craig was detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and placed in the care of the Meadowbrook mental health unit.
Under the Act, police can move people between places of safety, like a hospital or police station, for up to 72 hours.
Craig did not need to be sectioned, consultant psychiatrists decided, after an interview lasting over two hours.
Family lay flowers at Eccles station after Craig Creedon’s death
But Craig was “a charmer and a very private person”, said family, and could convince anyone that he was not suffering from depression.
His partner Katie Burke said she had informed doctors that Craig was good at “telling people what they wanted to hear” in order to get out of hospital stays.
After leaving Meadowbrook on Stott Lane at around 8.40pm that Saturday evening, there was no reason for him to be at Eccles, as it was in the opposite direction to his home, the inquest heard.
CCTV captured him walking onto the platform at Eccles
Despite multiple agencies being represented at an inquest into his death, the Creedon family still feel they will never get the answers they want.
Craig’s GP Dr Barcell admitted to the inquest that he had failed to pass on a request for an urgent mental health referral after seeing Craig.
It was known that he had a past history of depression and heavy alcohol use going back to at least 2010.
A review was ordered at the surgery and Assistant Coroner Rachel Griffiths said this was sufficient.
A team of doctors and psychiatric professionals allowed Craig to leave the unit despite family pleading with them not to let him go.
Craig’s previous history of mental illness was not updated on his electronic patient record, and so health bosses had no way of knowing the severity of his case, the inquest was told.
A review was ordered over the use and updating of electronic patient records.
Dr Chew, a specialist registrar in psychiatry, could not recall this conversation with Craig’s partner where she told him not to listen to what Craig said, and asked him not to let Craig leave the unit that night.
He tried phoning Craig’s partner but did not leave a message, and after phoning the
Dr Chew said he had not attended training, and had not seen an email reportedly sent out by by his bosses inviting him to training.
The inquest heard that Mr Creedon was assessed, and did not seem to be in a suicidal state.
“It was a very difficult decision,” said consultant psychiatrist Dr Kurian.
“He seemed very open and honest and was positive about the future. He talked about getting a job in future and seemed anxious to leave the unit and not to be admitted.”
Speaking after the inquest Craig’s brother Mark could barely contain his fury.
“It’s a cover-up, he said. “Every question I asked, they couldn’t answer.
“This isn’t the end for us. We will take further legal action.
“Meadowbrook killed my brother, that’s how we feel. Meadowbrook killed Craig.”
Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Meadowbrook, was rated ‘Good’ in the most recent health inspection by the Care Quality Commission.
But inspectors told the trust it must take action to make sure all staff had necessary training “in order to safely perform their roles and protect patient safety”.
Assistant Coroner Rachael Griffin, summing up, told the Creedon family: “I’m never going to be able to ascertain what would have happened if you had been contacted.
“I’m very sorry I can’t answer that.
“There will always be that, “What if?”. Sadly this process can never answer that for you.”
