1 week Ago By [email protected] (Max Chesson)
A grieving mother believes her daughter was let down by health professionals before falling to her death from a motorway bridge. Dani Tuohy, 25, died on the M20 in January, just hours after being discharged from the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. Now, her devastated mum, Lucie Lochhead, has raised concerns over the medical treatment received by her daughter in the days and months before the tragedy.
At a pre-inquest review into Miss Tuohy’s death, an email written by Ms Lochhead was read out by coroner Katrina Hepburn. It detailed grievances about the healthcare given to Miss Tuohy, who suffered from chronic gastro illnesses. “My biggest concern at the end of all this is that Danielle did reach out to multiple people and services prior to the incident, desperately asking for help,” she wrote.
“Despite this, she was sent away along a different pathway by each and every person she contacted. “Despite mentioning she felt unsafe and was having suicidal thoughts, everyone closed the door on her, and no one was taking responsibility for her. “Do people in the services not communicate with each other? I feel like there was a lack of communication between all the specialists and Danielle, leaving her confused, isolated, helpless and thoroughly left out.
“Where would she have gone next for help? She had run out of options.” Miss Tuohy was a charity volunteer and well known in Ashford for her online reviews of afternoon tea cafes She had been diagnosed with gastroparesis, or delayed food transit, in 2018 and supported the work of Guts UK, which fights digestive diseases. She was reported missing just hours before her death and was wearing hospital clothing when she was seen climbing railings on the A28 Canterbury Bridge in Kennington.
Tragically, she fell to the carriageway below and was pronounced dead by emergency crews shortly after 1pm on January 23. At Tuesday’s hearing at Oakwood House in Maidstone, Miss Lochhead expressed concerns over a review of her daughter carried out by a mental health crisis team on the morning of her death. She argued the evidence provided to the coroner by those who conducted the review was “inaccurate in places”, and disputed the claim that Miss Tuohy had told staff she was not feeling suicidal.
She also stated her belief that there had been a lack of support for her daughter after she was discharged from hospital following the fitting of a nasal feeding tube months before her death. Miss Lochhead said it had taken five weeks for medical teams to visit Miss Tuohy, and she had not been trained to use or manage a stoma bag her daughter had also had fitted. She explained how Miss Tuohy had been “in pain constantly” and wanted the stoma removed, even going as far as securing an appointment to do so before she was advised against it.
“If Danielle had received more help, support and counselling for the tubes and the stoma, could this maybe have helped Danielle’s mood and made her feel more supported by the medical professionals?” asked Ms Lochhead. She added there was a “feeling like nobody cared” and that her daughter “was just left alone to navigate her way through this life-changing period”. Little evidence was presented to the review, with a full inquest to examine the circumstances of Miss Tuohy’s death and the care she received likely to be held in August.
However, Ms Hepburn said: “We know she’s gone to the hospital on the evening of January 22 and was reviewed by liaison psychiatry. “On the morning of the 23rd, the whole team came and discharged her. “I would like to understand what was happening from their involvement in the morning, and then the events later on, with Danielle falling from the motorway bridge to her death.
” A spokesperson for the East Kent Hospitals Trust, which runs the William Harvey, said it could not comment on Ms Lochhead’s concerns until after the full inquest has concluded. They added: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Danielle’s family and loved ones.” For confidential support on an emotional issue call the Samaritans anytime on 116 123.
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