One mother described the pain she felt after her two sons were killed within five months due to neglect or failings by the NHS Trust.
Matthew Copestick, 21, from Stockport, collapsed and died in the shower from heart arrhythmia, four days after being sent home from hospital when ‘poor communication’ by health staff wrongly assessed him as ‘medically fit.’
Sam, a talented university student with paranoid schizophrenia and his brother, died five months later.
Sam’s mother, Helen, had repeatedly raised concerns that her son’s health was declining following his brother’s death, but her concerns were ignored.
Her son attempted suicide and was found after hospital staff called his devastated mother and said: ‘Sam’s gone awol.’ He died in hospital three days later
The health agency and any other agencies responsible for their mistakes in medical treatment were condemned by both the boys’ families.
A jury found Sam’s death due to neglect last week. In January, however, the coroner stated that Matthew died because of communication and planning problems.
Matthew Copestick aged 21 died from heart arrhythmia after collapsing in the shower in Stockport. Sam Copestick, right, was his younger brother and took his own suicide five months later. Helen McHale, Helen’s mother (59) heard last week that Sam was killed by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Helen, the mother of two, aged 59 said that Helen was unable to imagine living each day without her sons realizing deep down that their father would not have died if she hadn’t raised my concerns.
After Matthew’s death, Sam became paranoid and more sick. He didn’t believe Matthew was dead and thought I was lying to him.
“I informed the staff about his deteriorating condition, but they allowed him to go and he ended up taking his own life.
‘A mother’s voice should be heard. While mental health is complex and delicate, I am hopeful that there will soon be changes in the process that will allow other families to avoid this pain.
Helen, shown here, stated that she raised concerns about the welfare of her sons before they died, but wasn’t listened to
Matthew (left) struggled with finding his way in life, and turned to drinking in 2018. Sam was right, a gifted student who was eventually diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Matthew and Sam were small brothers who were very close, but totally different. Sam, who was born July 1994, was popular, gifted academically, and an avid chess player. Matthew, three years younger, was diagnosed with Asperger’s after starting school. Helen and the boys’ father, Lee, split when the children were little but remained friends.
Helen from Stockport was a chief executive of a housing association. Because he sometimes seemed like an old, grumbly man, we called him Albert Tatlock.
Matthew was an excellent one-to-one homemaker, but struggled at school socially.
Although Sam was intelligent and beautiful, his mental health problems as a teenager were very serious. He was a student of accountancy, but dropped out.
“He accepted an apprenticeship, but he also gave up on it. He was looking for his place in the world and he couldn’t find it.
Matthew, centre moved into supportive living aged 18, while Sam was admitted into a mental health unit in Rochdale aged 21, but was released and tried to take his own life. He spent over two years in hospital after this failed attempt.
‘He knew there was something wrong with him, but he didn’t know what it was. Although we helped him get counselling, his issues were complex.
‘I hoped he’d come through it, as teenagers do.’
Matthew, aged 18, moved to supported living.
Helen stated that Matthew loved his place and his independence, but still maintained a close bond with me and his father. His life was shaped by us. We supported him and managed his money. He also enjoyed cooking. A huge football, snooker, and music enthusiast, he had a Rochdale FC season ticket.
Sam continued to fall and started showing signs of psychosis. Sam was taken to Rochdale’s mental hospital, but was allowed out despite his family concerns. He then threw himself onto a railway track. Although he was able to recover physically, he struggled mentally. Sam was in the hospital more than 2 years.
Helen was on holiday with Sam just before Sam’s mental health started to decline. Helen acknowledged that she was concerned about Sam’s mental health, but felt he was right where he needed to be.
Matthew began experiencing mental decline in 2019, after having been drinking for a year. The 31-year old wanted to stop drinking and enter a detox program.
Helen shares her concern: “I was worried about Sam. But his father and I knew he was right where he needed to be.”
Matthew started to drink in August 2018 and used alcohol to make him feel better. However, it was difficult for Matthew to detox quickly.
The Christmas of 2018 was hard. Matthew enjoyed Christmas and his birthdays, but felt pressured by the desire to be happy. By January 4, he was so unwell that he went to A&E and was referred for an emergency detox programme, rather than the planned one he had been working towards.
Helen stated that Matthew needed immediate medical attention. The detox unit was unable to accept him due to confusion regarding the criteria. He was instead sent home.
Matthew (left) and Sam (right), enjoying a glass of wine. Despite being quite different, the two men were very close as children.
After Sam’s death in 2019, a banner was created in his memory. One of his caregivers took Same out of the facility to take him shopping. But he was too busy and he ended up taking his own life.
Pictured are Sam and Matt, Helen with her ex-husband Le. Lee and Helen separated when the boys were small, but maintained good relations.
“We were so concerned about him. I heard him say to me, “Mum, I want my detox before you die.” That had such an impact on my life that it has haunted and influenced me for the rest of my life.
Helen called Matthew January 8, 2019, and set up a time to call him back later that afternoon. Matthew, 21 years old, did not answer the phone and was found in his shower dead.
Helen says: ‘We were heartbroken. I am tormented by the thought that he would have been alive if he’d been in detox.’
Matthew was diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder, which could have been caused by his fatty liver. Sam took his brother’s death very hard.
Helen says: ‘Sam accused me of lying about Matthew’s death; he became even more paranoid and thought it was all part of the conspiracy.
‘Sam went to the funeral parlour, but he said the body wasn’t Matthew.
Sam began to eat less after Matthew passed away. He thought everyone wanted to murder him.
Helen (pictured) said that she was shocked Sam was released from care despite her concerns about Sam’s mental health.
In January, an inquest determined that Matthew died of Sudden Death from alcohol dependence.
Despite Helen’s concerns, Sam was allowed out of hospital for a trip to the shops with a single female care worker. He tried to jump in front of a car but his carer refused to stop him.
Sam fled the shop as soon as they got there. Helen was soon contacted by the unit to inform her that Sam had fled.
His body was located a little later.
Helen stated that Sam was allowed to leave the hospital without any explanation. Sam could not even be taken to the shops with one worker. I was completely ignored by staff and the discussions at Sam’s last review.
Sam was placed on life support for 3 days. This gave his family the opportunity to say farewell and donate his organs. With his family and friends present, he died less than five month after Matthew.
A January inquest determined Matthew’s death from Sudden Death due to alcohol dependence. The coroner slammed hospital staff for ‘poor communication’ and ‘a lack of understanding.’
Sam’s inquest was held last month at Rochdale Coroners Court during which Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust apologised to the family and accepted numerous failures including an absence of a risk management plan, failure to liaise with Sam’s mother, despite her raising concerns about his condition and the lack of staff looking after him whilst on the escorted visit.
Sam’s inquest was held last month at Rochdale Coroners Court during which Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust apologised to the family and accepted numerous failures including an absence of a risk management plan, failure to liaise with Sam’s mother, despite her raising concerns about his condition and the lack of staff looking after him whilst on the escorted visit. Matthew and Sam, as children
For Sam’s funeral, a wreath in the shape of a football was made. Sam was an avid fan of football and purchased season tickets to Rochdale FC.
The inquest also heard that in 2018, Helen, pictured, issued a complaint about the care Sam was receiving at the unit saying she believed medical staff were consistently ‘underestimating the risk’ to her son
Pictured is Matthew, a child during a trip to a waterpark. Helen claimed that she is haunted because Matthew begged her for a detox before his passing.
The inquest also heard that in 2018, Sam’s mother issued a complaint about the care Sam was receiving at the unit saying she believed medical staff were consistently ‘underestimating the risk’ to her son.
She complained and was investigated. Although there were suggestions for improvement, none of them were implemented. Sam was not allowed to leave the jury’s office.
The boys’ father, Lee Copestick, 57, says: ‘Loved ones need to be safe, secure and supported to a high standard. Two sons who died from preventable causes is heartbreaking.
‘In Sam’s case a finding of neglect should prompt fundamental improvement so that there is no repetition of our tragedy. Everyone has the right to expect it.
Ruth Bundey from Harrison Bundey Solicitors, who represented the family, said: ‘It is beyond belief that senior Pennine staff ignored crucially informative and courteous emails, as well as calls, from Sam’s mother Helen, revealing her son’s increasing distress that if he went out on leave he would be killed.
‘This followed two sets of admissions in the previous year that the Trust had not sufficiently listened to the family’s experiences. This devastating lack of respect ultimately led to Sam’s death.’
Clare Parker, executive director of nursing, healthcare professionals & quality governance at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We offer our deepest sympathies to Matthew’s family for the loss of their much loved son. The coroner’s report has been concluded. We recognize that lessons can be learned.
Helen’s 2018 complaint against Sam was investigated. Although there were some suggestions, none of them were implemented. Sam shouldn’t have been permitted to leave on leave, according to the jury.
‘We are working on improving communication between teams to ensure all alcohol referral pathways for patients attending A&E are understood. We regret that the referral didn’t happen because patient safety is our top priority.
She added: ‘We would again like to offer our deepest apologies to Sam’s family. They and everyone who knew Sam are in our thoughts.
Following our investigation, we put together an improvement program to ensure it never happens again. These include the investment in a dedicated service manager as well as a head quality position.
“We’re sorry for the mistakes and have put together an improvement program right away after we completed our investigation. These include the investment in a dedicated service manager as well as a head quality position.