WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Laurence Tchapong, 54, was convicted of wilfully neglecting a patient at the Brooklands psychiatric intensive care unit after failing to carry out observations
A mental health nurse who neglected to check on a patient who she bore a “grudge” against, leading to the patient’s suicide, has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Laurence Tchapong, 54, was expected to conduct checks every five minutes on patient Amy Barber, 22, at the Brooklands psychiatric intensive care unit at Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, Liverpool Crown Court was informed on Tuesday.
However, on June 30, 2022, she failed to check on Ms Barber for 25 minutes before she was discovered by another nurse at 8.40pm and rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital, where she was later declared dead.
The court heard that Tchapong, who was convicted of wilfully neglecting a patient after a trial, had subsequently filled out observation logs and “deliberately lied in those records to try and evade justice”, but was exposed by CCTV footage.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Anil Murray noted that Tchapong had previously received a verbal warning after Ms Barber took a photo of her sleeping and reported her to management.
He stated: “I am sure the defendant held a grudge against Amy for a perceived lack of warmth towards the defendant and because Amy had previously complained about the defendant.”
Reading a statement to the court, Ms Barber’s mother Susan described her daughter as “the most caring, bright, funny and intelligent girl I’ve ever met”. She added: “She was driven. That drive was taken away by a system that let her down.”
The court was informed that Ms Barber had been diagnosed with a mental health illness in 2014 and was transferred to the Clatterbridge unit in 2019. Her mother pleaded with the court: “Please learn from this.”
Tchapong, who migrated to the UK from Cameroon, qualified as a mental health nurse in 2004, according to court proceedings.
At the time of the incident, the defendant, residing at Penroyson Close, Manchester, was employed full-time near Manchester and also undertook agency work at Clatterbridge.
In her trial testimony, she claimed the ward had been understaffed and she had been tasked with additional duties on the evening of Ms Barber’s death, but the judge stated the jury had dismissed both claims.
The court heard Tchapong felt “resentful” towards the hospital and believed she was being used as a “scapegoat”. The judge stated: “It is suggested the defendant is remorseful. I can’t accept that as the defendant does not accept she is to blame here.”
Patrick Cassidy, defending, said the intensity and challenging nature of mental health nursing could sometimes “wear down the resilience and the professionalism of those who operate in that sector”. He added: “There can be a confidence that there will be no further offences by this defendant.”
Tchapong, who the court heard had previously been of good character, showed no reaction as she was sentenced to prison.
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