The grieving mother of a young woman who passed away in a hospital honored her daughter following a nurse’s conviction for neglecting her on the night she died.
Amy Barber, diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and an eating disorder at 14, was moved to Brooklands Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Clatterbridge Hospital in Wirral after a history of self-harm in her teenage years.
Although staff were supposed to check on Amy every five minutes, she was discovered unresponsive in her room on June 30, 2022. Registered mental health nurse Laurence Tchapong, responsible for Amy’s care that night, provided her with a towel at 8.15 pm before leaving. Another nurse, distributing medication at the time, entered Amy’s room 25 minutes later and found her unresponsive.
Tchapong, employed by an agency at the time, was tasked with “level two checks,” including monitoring patients through their bedroom windows every five minutes. The nurse from Manchester was also required to ensure patients were awake and check for signs of self-harm.
CCTV footage showed Tchapong giving Amy a towel at 8.15 pm, and another nurse, Victoria Connelly, found Amy unresponsive at 8.40 pm while attempting to administer medication. Amy was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital but suffered severe brain damage and tragically passed away on July 4, 2022, having taken her own life.
During a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Tchapong had falsified observation entries and falsely claimed to have checked on Amy. Despite admitting to not checking on Amy after 8.15 pm, Tchapong argued she was occupied with other tasks and patients. Tchapong awaits sentencing on September 1.
Amy’s mother, Sue, paid a heartfelt tribute to her daughter, describing her as bright, kind, and exceptionally clever. Sue highlighted Amy’s academic achievements and her altruistic nature as an organ donor. Expressing the deep bond they shared, Sue emphasized the impact of losing Amy.
Regarding Tchapong’s actions, Sue expressed disappointment at the lack of timely checks on her daughter, emphasizing the importance of constant monitoring in such situations. She hoped for a suitable punishment for the nurse responsible for her daughter’s care and recounted the emotional strain of reliving Amy’s final moments during the trial.
For support during difficult times, Samaritans offer round-the-clock assistance at 116 123 or through their website.
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