A husband’s age prevented him from receiving the fastest, most effective help for his psychosis, a coroner’s inquest heard after the couple’s deaths. In September 2022, Chris and Ruth Stone-Houghton were found dead at their home in Portsmouth, with Mr. Stone-Houghton having been plagued by paranoia and delusional thoughts.
Although clinicians requested early intervention for psychosis, the request was declined twice because Mr. Stone-Houghton was 66 years old, exceeding the NHS Trust’s cutoff of 65. Instead, he was placed on a year-long waiting list for targeted talking therapy support.
The mental health crisis intensified during the pandemic, partly as the jewellery business he ran was forced to shut, and he attempted suicide in July 2022. He was detained under the Mental Health Act and admitted to a psychiatric ward at St James’ Hospital in Portsmouth, then overseen by what was formerly the Solent NHS Trust.
During his time there, staff noted he did not engage in conversations and resisted taking medication, according to Dr. Eleanor Lucas, a consultant psychiatrist who coordinated his crisis care in the community and visited him on the ward.
By early August, he was discharged from St James’ Hospital. The discharge papers stated he had been “engaging well with staff,” was taking his medications, and was deemed low-risk. Dr. Lucas later described this as inaccurate, saying that in the days after discharge he did not appear to be truly well.
The inquest heard that Dr. Lucas twice pressed for early intervention for psychosis, but the request again fell through, with plans instead for relatives to contact services if relapse signs emerged.
No formal carer’s assessment had been conducted for Ms. Stone-Houghton, who cared for her husband. Dr. Lucas noted that the family had been supported at ongoing meetings.
The inquest is ongoing.
If you are affected by any issues raised in this article, you can find support from organisations listed by BBC Action Line (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health-self-harm).
