Coroner warns of risk of future deaths at mental health unit where patient was killed
Summary
A man died after being strangled by another patient at a mental health center in east London. The coroner warned that more deaths could happen unless the hospital fixes its problems, including staff neglect and poor care.Key Facts
- Hugo Flint Cahan, 34, was killed by fellow patient Rolando Torres-Pena, 22, in January 2023.
- The death happened at Newham Mental Health Centre, part of the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT).
- Staff on duty were found sleeping and using phones instead of watching patients during the incident.
- The coroner reported 14 serious concerns, including fake patient records and slow CPR after the attack.
- Some staff lied to police and took unauthorized long breaks during their shifts.
- Torres-Pena pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and received a hospital order without a set release date.
- Similar problems were noted in a previous inquest in 2021, but the trust did not fully fix them.
- One staff member was fired, and four others are under investigation after the incident.
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