Mum’s anger after NHS governor said death of her son who drowned into bath had got them in ‘hot water’
Trust said they 'meant no offence' over tactless remark
A MUM has slammed an NHS mental health trust after one of its governors said the drowning of a teenage boy in its care had got them "into hot water".
In 2013 Connor 18-year-old Sparrowhawk, who had autism, epilepsy and a learning difficulty, drowned in a bath at Slade House care unit in Headington, Oxon.
He had been left unattended and suffered an epileptic fit.
A coroner ruled the tragic teen's death was partially due to neglect last year, and after a three year battle for justice, Southern Health NHS Trust yesterday admitted acting unlawfully.
But its apology was overshadowed after it emerged one of its governors had said during a trust board meeting that the teen's drowning had got them "into hot water".
According to the , audio recordings have just surfaced from the meeting, which took place on Tuesday, March 29 this year.
In the final two minutes of the meeting, published by Southern Health on Soundcloud.com, a governor referred to as "John" raises questions to do with press coverage that month.
He goes on to refer to Connor as "Sparrowhawk", saying: "I thought it was somewhat confusing because there were two people, who apparently got themselves into, shall we say, hot water.They went bathing.
"One of them was Sparrowhawk, where apparently the inquest has now said there was a lack of care, or neglect."
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Connor's mother Dr Sara Ryan told the newspaper last night that she thought the choice of words was "bloody outrageous".
The Oxford University researcher and long-time campaigner added: "I am just sick of being angry with them.
"I wrote a long letter to the council of governors that was supposed to go to all the governors. It's shocking that at the end of March he has asked what's happened and is being so disrespectful."
Former governor Mark Aspinall, who quit his post in April, has also called the tone "ill-mannered, rude and condescending".
A trust spokesman said: "We apologise unreservedly for the regrettable use of language and wish to be clear that no offence was intended by the governor."
Dr Ryan, who has campaigned for Southern Health to be held to account for the last three years, vowed to continue efforts to bring to light failings with families of other patients who died in the trust's care.
She said: "It is good they have at least acknowledged everything, but it shouldn’t have taken this long."
Southern Health said it would give Connor's family £80,000 in compensation, but Dr Ryan said that was "not at all" important.
The mum added: "It was never about the money. This is just one strand of the campaign."
A statement issued by Southern Health accepted it had "caused Connor’s death" and there were "negligent breaches of the duty of care".
It goes on to say the teenager's human right to life was violated and the organisation failed to find and disclose all relevant evidence of the case to his family and the coroner.
Last month Dr Ryan says she received a voicemail from a Southern Health employee, who has since been formally identified, calling her a "vindictive cow" who wanted "some attention".
The statement added: "The trust fully acknowledges Dr Sara Ryan has conducted herself and the Justice for LB campaign in a dignified, fair and reasonable way.
"To the extent there have been comments to the contrary by trust staff and family members of staff, these do not represent the view of the trust."
The admissions prompted fresh calls for trust bosses to resign - but a trust spokeswoman said it would not comment on the future of Katrina Percy, its embattled chief executive.
Andrew Smith, Oxford East MP, welcomed the settlement reached with the family but criticised "staggering failings" at the trust.
He added: "The important thing here is that families whose loved ones have suffered can feel confident that Southern Health is now fully meeting its duty of care.
"At any other organisation there would have been a leadership change by now and this latest announcement just underlines the case."
Despite the compensation settlement confirmed between Connor Sparrowhawk's family and Southern Health Dr Ryan said the family could still sue.
Hampshire cops also confirmed they were investigating allegations that the trust provided "false or misleading information" to authorities and it is facing a Health and Safety Executive probe into 89 patient deaths that were not previously examined.
It follows a damning report by the watchdog the Care Quality Commission earlier this year which sparked the resignation of Southern Health's chairman and a board member to resign.
The trust's statement said: "Almost three years ago Connor Sparrowhawk died while in our care, for which we are deeply sorry, and we would like to take this opportunity to again offer our unreserved apologies to his family for his preventable death.
"We have now been able to come to a successfully mediated settlement with Connor’s family."
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