UPDATED @17:42 University Hospitals Sussex Foundation NHS Trust responds after death of teenage girl

Thursday, 27 November 2025 12:22

A Sussex hospital trust has been fined £200,000 for failing to keep a vulnerable teenager safe. Read the full statement from University Hospitals Sussex Foundation NHS Trust.

16-year-old Ellame Ford-Dunn, from Upper Beeding, had been receiving treatment at Worthing Hospital when she managed to leave her ward in 2022. She was later found on the hospital grounds, having taken her own life.

Investigators concluded that the trust had not provided adequate safeguards to protect her, leading to the substantial fine issued in court. The case highlighted shortcomings in monitoring procedures and the systems designed to prevent high-risk patients from absconding.

University Hospitals Sussex Foundation NHS Trust, Chief Nurse, Dr Maggie Davies, said: “When we appeared at last month’s hearing, we acknowledged the seriousness of what happened and the devastating impact on Ellame’s family and friends. That remains true today.

“The loss of Ellame was a tragedy for her and for those who loved her. Colleagues involved in her care remain devastated by her death and the impact it continues to have on her family and friends.

“We had a responsibility to protect her while she was in our care, and we are sincerely sorry that we were not able to do that. Everyone accepts that people with acute mental illness should not be in general hospital wards or A&E departments, but that does not lessen our duty to keep patients safe whilst efforts are made to provide them with more appropriate care.

“Since Ellame’s death, we have made significant improvements to our policies, training, and ward environments to prevent anything like this happening again. Today’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of what happened, and we remain committed to working with our NHS partners to learn from this tragedy, and for us all to find better ways of caring for patients who are vulnerable.”

Helen Rawlings, CQC director of operations in the south, said: “Ellame’s death is a tragic case, and my thoughts are with her family and all those grieving her loss.

“Ellame should have been able to rely on University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to take all the steps they could to keep her safe during a very vulnerable time in her life, but this didn’t happen.

“The trust was aware of Ellame’s history of absconding, yet failed to manage this known risk adequately, which might have avoided this tragic outcome.

“The prosecution should remind all health and social care organisations of their duty to provide care that meets people’s needs and reduces the risks to their safety based on their individual circumstances.”

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