By Megan Harwood-Baynes and Laura Bundock, Sky News Health Team
Saturday 21 June 2025 06:42, UK
A Sky News investigation has uncovered multiple failings linked to a London NHS trust recently convicted of serious health and safety breaches following the death of 22-year-old Alice Figueiredo.
Alice took her own life in July 2015 while under the care of North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT). Although the trust was found not guilty of corporate manslaughter, it was convicted of significant failings in patient care.
Tragically, Alice’s former schoolmate, Karis Braithwate, also died by suicide three years later while being treated by the same trust.
Sky News has reviewed coroners’ reports spanning a decade, highlighting recurring issues of rushed assessments, neglect, and poor record-keeping at NELFT facilities, especially at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford.
One report revealed a patient was recorded as alive even after he had died by suicide inside the hospital. Another patient warned staff of suicidal thoughts but was not safeguarded properly.
Karis Braithwate was discharged from Goodmayes Hospital less than an hour before she took her own life at a nearby railway station in 2018. Her mother described how Karis felt unsafe and neglected during her hospital stay.
Family members have described a “hollow and indifferent” apology from the trust, adding to their grief and frustration.
NELFT acknowledges Karis’s death as a “profound tragedy” and says it has since implemented new patient safety protocols, focusing on trauma-informed care and better risk assessment.
The trust has improved communication and record-keeping between emergency services and mental health teams.
Image:Mark Bambridge said Karis was a sweet and kind girl
Sky News has seen numerous Prevention of Future Death reports written by coroners, pointing to failures in risk assessments and neglect across the trust.
One report detailed how hospital staff panicked after a patient’s death, initially reporting him alive the day after his suicide.
Other cases included patients left immobile without adequate nutrition or hydration, leading to further health complications.
Concerns also extend beyond hospital wards, with community support gaps contributing to patient deaths.
One man died of an overdose after his medication access was not properly controlled, while another was released from hospital prematurely and later found dead.
At one inquest, a coroner warned about inadequate staffing, with a single junior doctor responsible for 200 patients across 11 wards.
Current patients continue to report safety concerns at Goodmayes Hospital.
Teresa Whitbread, whose granddaughter Chantelle was a high suicide risk, revealed how her granddaughter escaped the hospital multiple times and was neglected by staff.
Chantelle’s family say she suffered emotionally and physically during her stay and are urging that Goodmayes be closed.
NELFT said it prioritises patient safety and works with families to provide compassionate, tailored care.
The trust declined to comment on individual cases.
The investigation sheds light on systemic problems within the mental health services in North East London, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
Families affected by these tragedies call for accountability and better protection for vulnerable patients.
Anyone feeling distressed or suicidal can contact Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org in the UK, or 1 (800) 273-TALK in the US.
