Amy Pugh

I am Professor Paul Marks, Senior Coroner, for the Coroner Area of City of Kingston Upon Hull and the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

On 23 rd July 2024, I commenced an investigation into the death of Amy Grace Pugh,  aged 23 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 26 th November 2025, the narrative conclusion of the inquest was:- Amy Grace Pugh took an overdose of [REDACTED] and other drugs around midnight on 10 th April 2024 which resulted in her death on the morning of 11th April 2024. Whilst it is certain she took the drugs, it is not possible to discern her intent.

Amy Grace Pugh had a complex psychiatric history comprising emotionally  unstable personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit  hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression as well as drug and substance  misuse. She had a proclivity to self-harm resulting [REDACTED] and taking overdoses of medication. She received a custodial sentence of 18 months imprisonment which she served at HMP Low Newton and was released on 27th March 2024. Whilst in prison two  Assessments, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) were opened and  subsequently closed. The ACCT’s were opened due to self-harming behaviour  whilst in custody. On her release she was inadequately supported by various  agencies and the combination of this lack of support resulted in the recurrence of self-harming behaviour and a serious deterioration in her mental health, which had been stable during the latter part of her incarceration. Two hospital  attendances resulted from applying a ligature to her neck and later the same day,  3rd April 2024, from a combined overdose of medication and consumption of  alcohol. She required elective ventilation in the intensive care unit of Scunthorpe  Hospital until the effects of alcohol and drugs had passed off. On regaining  consciousness on 5th April 2024, she displayed psychotic symptoms and was  detained under 5(2) of The Mental Health Act 1983. Despite this, she absconded  from hospital but was returned the same day. She underwent a mental health  assessment on 8th April 2024 which resulted in her informal admission to Avondale Unit in Hull. She obtained leave on 10th April 2024 to visit her twin  sister in York. Whilst in the company of her sister, she appropriated her sister’s  drugs which comprised pregabalin, diazepam, gabapentin, codeine and  propranolol. She returned as scheduled to the Avondale Unit on 10th April and  queries were raised around 21:00 hours that she might be intoxicated. She denied this. At 22:00 hours she collapsed in the garden of the facility and lost consciousness but recovered after about 2 minutes. Paramedics were called and attended, by which time she was fully conscious with essentially normal vital signs. Out of an abundance of caution, paramedics advised that she should go to  hospital to be checked, but Amy refused and the default position was that staff of  the Avondale Unit would observe her overnight. Observations were conducted at 01:00 and 02:00 hours visually through a flap in  the door of Amy’s bedroom with neither entry into the room or physical  examination being carried out. In all the circumstances, this was an inadequate  means of assessing Amy. At 03:00 hours, a further observation occurred, this time with entry into Amy’s  room. She had no pulse, was not breathing and had fixed, dilated pupils. Despite  cardiopulmonary resuscitation being carried out, there was no return of  spontaneous circulation, and she was declared deceased at 04:13 hours at Hull  Royal Infirmary. The aggregation of failings in this case may be considered to have more than minimally, negligibly and trivially resulted in Amy’s death.

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the  circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. Following Amy’s admission to Avondale Unit on 8 th April 2024, clinical staff were unable  to access important records pertaining to Amy’s mental health from partner NHS mental  health institutions and this compromised her assessment and subsequent management. The approved findings of fact are attached.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation has the power to take such action. This may include, for example, ensuring  that medical records systems within the NHS are compatible, can be accessed 24 hours  per day by partner organisations and hence permit the data systems to “talk to each  other.”