- Alan Bailey was strapped to stretcher in an ambulance after being sectioned under Mental Health Act
- When he became distressed and tried to escape, a Pc restrained him with handcuffs, inquest heard
- Coroner tells officer: ‘This is totally ridiculous. Mr Bailey was a frightened man with little understanding of the world around him’
- He will write to Greater Manchester Police about its treatment of mental health patients
- Also blasts decision by NHS to section Mr Bailey in his daughter’s absence
- Mr Bailey died at a mental health unit weeks later after an unconnected fall
A coroner has condemned a police force over its treatment of mental health patients after an 84-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer was handcuffed as he was being taken to hospital in an ambulance.
Distressed Alan Bailey had been strapped to a stretcher to restrain him after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Health workers had opted to take him to a specialist unit after his condition deteriorated and asked the police to assist with the transfer.
But when he became agitated and tried to escape, he was handcuffed by the accompanying officer in a response described by a coroner as ‘totally ridiculous’.
Mr Bailey was taken to Tameside General Hospital and later to a health care unit, where he died weeks later after an unconnected fall.
A coroner at an inquest into his death said ‘it beggars belief’ that the retired design engineer was handcuffed.
The inquest heard that Mr Bailey had been assessed by psychiatrists and social workers at his home in Rushfield Road, Cheadle Hulme, after his physical condition deteriorated.
The health workers had been due to meet Mr Bailey’s daughter, Sandra Coombes, at his home on March 4 last year to discuss his situation.
But the meeting was moved forward by 24 hours and Mrs Coombes was unable to attend.
The health workers decided Mr Bailey should be sectioned under the Mental Health Act without Mrs Coombes being present and called police to help escort Mr Bailey to the ambulance, the hearing at Stockport Coroners court was told.
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Outrageous.
As I read this story I actually felt for the police officer concerned. After all, had Mr Baily escaped (some how) there would have been out rage that action wasn’t taken to stop it happening ensuring that he didn’t go missing. But then I read that he was sectioned in his own home. I have been told that here, (viaKent Police)you can not section a person in their own home on the grounds that it is Their Own Home. Mrs Coombes, his daughter should have been present in the least surely? Why do the social services behave differently in each area, why is there no continuaty
Sorry, that’s continuity