'My dad would still be alive if he got the right care for psychosis'

The daughter of a man who took his own life during a mental health crisis believes her father would still be alive if he had received the right care for psychosis.

Don Taylor, from Bury, Greater Manchester, had experienced the condition, which can cause hallucinations and delusions, in 2000 and was successfully treated. But in 2018 he started showing similar signs.

His daughter Emma Kenny said the family's concerns were not taken seriously and his medication was constantly changed.

In a statement, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust said it took "all concerns about patient care seriously and remain committed to providing safe, high-quality care to all our patients and their families."

Psychosis is when people lose some contact with reality, which might involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear, and believing things that are not actually true, according to the NHS.

"It's the strangest experience finding my dad in that situation because it's the most traumatic moment of my life," said Emma, who works as a TV psychologist and presenter.

"It was horrendous, and I look back at that and I just think, 'How could you genuinely be so delusional that you'd think that we would be better off without you?'

"He was at my house and he just stopped and said, 'I know what you're all doing'.

"Immediately I thought, 'Oh no, we're having another psychotic break'."

Emma said her family pushed for her father to be given anti-psychotic medication, but it was withdrawn a month later.

After a failed attempt to take his own life, Don was put back on medication.

"The medication was constantly changed up and down over the phone, even though I knew that shouldn't happen. It was a constant battle," Emma said.

"They would say that my father had capacity because he dressed well.

"We would say, 'No, he's not well'.

"He's accusing my mum of stealing the money from the house and they just ignored us."

Ten months after first showing the signs of psychosis, Don took his own life at the age of 78 in July 2019.

She said one of hardest parts was that "my dad was totally savable".

"He was one of the biggest characters and one of the most humble humans," said Emma.

"He had the mix of every interplay of positivity in his personality.

"I think seeing him as he was versus how he became is probably one of the most challenging journeys I've ever been on."

The family brought a medical negligence case against Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and were awarded a six-figure settlement after a five-and-a-half-year legal battle.

Her solicitor said cases involving families feeling let down by mental health services were increasingly common.

"I'm inundated with inquiries where people have either taken their life and left devastated families behind, sometimes young children, or they've attempted it and are now severely injured," said Shantala Carr.

"All I can do is keep bringing these cases in the hope that someone higher up will see what's happening and that things will change for the better."

PennineCare NHS Foundation Trust said: "We understand this has been a very difficult time for the family.

"On our behalf, the case was settled by NHS resolution without admission of liability.

"At the coroner's inquest, there was no criticism of the care we provided."

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