Norwich woman died after falling between NHS cracks

Katie McArevey, whose studies brought her to the region from Bolton, took her own life on March 1 last year aged 35.

An inquest has heard she had been in contact with mental health services in the weeks leading up to her death.

But area coroner Yvonne Blake said Miss McArevey had "fallen through the cracks" of services.

The inquest heard Miss McArevey had been referred the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust by her GP and was in touch with the community mental health team.

She was then referred to the early intervention in psychosis team and was awaiting transfer of care at the time of her death.

Mrs Blake said: "She sought help from her GP who referred her to mental health services and she was seen quickly.

"Unfortunately, it seems there was a lull and she appears to have fallen between the cracks."

Stuart Richardson, chief executive of NSFT (Image: NSFT)

Stuart Richardson, chief executive at NSFT, said: “I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Miss McArevey’s family.

“We have looked at this case in detail and recognise there is more we can do to better support people when they move between our different teams.

"We have strengthened our processes to ensure new assessments happen more quickly for people in these circumstances.

“We will, of course, review the coroner’s findings to see if there are any other changes we can introduce.”

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The inquest heard she had previously studied English and American Literature at the University of East Anglia and that she was living in an HMO in College Road, Norwich.

Mrs Blake gave a narrative conclusion that Miss McArevey had taken her own life following a deterioration in her mental health.

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