An NHS worker has been sentenced for health and safety failings as a trust was fined more than £500,000 following the death of a woman died in a secure mental health hospital.

Alice Figueiredo took her own life at London's Goodmayes Hospital in July 2015.The 22-year-old, who had been diagnosed with bipolar and an eating disorder, was undergoing treatment at Hepworth ward at Goodmayes Hospital in London.

Earlier this year, a jury found the North East London NSH Foundation Trust, as well as ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa, did not do enough to prevent the young woman from taking her own life. Today, the trust was fined £565,000 over the health and safety breach and ordered to pay £200,000 costs.

Mr Aninakwa, 54, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must also carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, Judge Richard Marks KC ruled. He said: "She was beautiful vibrant young woman. Her death at such a young age in the circumstances in which it occurred is a terrible tragedy."

Alice's mother and former hospital chaplain Jane Figueiredo said the family had been treated with "dismissive contempt, belittling and playing down". In a victim impact statement, she said court: "Such attitudes go against everything patient care stands for in our NHS. The impact of Alice's untimely, preventable death on every aspect of my life and our life as a family has been immeasurable."

During her time on the ward, the trust failed to remove plastic items, which she use to self-harm on "at least 10 previous occasions." Staff would spend time on their phones instead of caring for those in the unit, a former patient also claimed.

Her mother went went on: "It's shocking and distressing that this was still going on four months after Alice died." She said items, which led to her death a decade ago, "could and should definitely have been removed" and added: "Instead. patients continued to be put at unnecessary risk." NELFT says the items have since been removed.

Whatever you are going through, you don't have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.

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