Widow may sue over tragedy

Feb 16 2006 By Tony Deeley, Birmingham Mail

A WIDOW is considering legal action after a coroner ruled that neglect contributed to her husband's death at a mental health unit.

Voluntary patient John Berry, aged 56, who was being treated for depression, hanged himself in the first floor laundry room at the Hallam Street mental health resource centre, in West Bromwich, on May 17 last year.

Staff hit by a manpower shortage had failed to keep a 15-minute watch on him, an inquest in West Bromwich heard.

Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict that the former engineer killed himself but that neglect contributed to it.

Mr Berry's wife of 28 years, Colette Berry, aged 57, of Beakes Road, Smethwick, who has two children, said today she was considering legal action against the health trust.

Mrs Berry, a cleaner, said: "This has wrecked our lives. We just cannot cope."

The inquest heard that Mr Berry was admitted to the resource centre's Abbey Ward in December 2004.

There had been previous instances of him trying to harm himself and, in the two days before his death, he had jumped or fallen from a bridge onto the nearby Midland metro track and had swallowed shampoo.