Health bodies failed tragic Bexley alcoholic, says coroner
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
Health bodies in the UK have been criticised by a coroner after a woman died of an alcohol overdose while waiting to receive treatment.
The woman was reportedly often found intoxicated by NHS staff during home visits in the months leading up to her death.
Emily Rose Collishaw, 35, was found dead in her flat on September 6, 2023. She was said to have been suffering from alcohol dependency and was drinking several bottles of wine a day.
An investigation was launched following her passing, which found the medical cause of death was related to the misuse of alcohol.
The coroner’s report claimed Ms Collishaw had begun treatment for substance misuse at an NHS centre in Erith, Bexley, in December 2022 and had regular contact with a key worker. However, she later received home treatment care after a fall she suffered while intoxicated.
The report said: “In June 2023, Bexley Home Treatment Team managed her mental health care, following admission to hospital with injuries from a fall, whilst intoxicated. Her family felt that she was not competent to self-discharge, a view not supported by a psychiatrist.”
Ms Collishaw was then referred for an inpatient rehabilitation suitability assessment, but this was reportedly not available until November of that year. The inquest for the case revealed the period of waiting for such placements was typically three months but could extend to as long as seven months.
The manager for the treatment centre in Erith claimed the delay in accessing residential care had progressively become longer in the past decade, posing risks such as sudden death to patients.
The report said that Ms Collishaw’s family felt the referral for residential care should have been made earlier, as they felt her housing situation was a risk that contributed to her health.
The inquest gave evidence that Ms Collishaw did not consistently engage with treatment and frequently relapsed after periods of reducing her alcohol intake.
The coroner noted that Ms Collishaw’s mother felt the support from the organisations working with her daughter had not been sufficient to maintain her physical health or promote abstinence in the six months before she died.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Our deepest sympathies are with Emily’s family and friends in this tragic case. It is important that we learn the lessons from every prevention of future deaths report, and we will consider the report carefully before responding appropriately.”
They added: “Too many people are waiting too long for the care they deserve. We will reform the broken NHS to ensure the health service is there for all of us when we need it.”
A NHS South East London ICB spokesperson told the LDRS that the relevant team was investigating the case to provide a statement to NHS England before early September.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.
Pictured top: The NHS alcohol support centre in Erith was criticised in the coroner’s report (Picture: Google Street View)