Reflections on Sally’s Inquest – 4 years on

A close family friend writes about her experience of Sally’s inquest and reflects on the situation four years on:

“Four years ago today was day one of an eight day inquest into Sally Mays’ death.

After eight harrowing and traumatic days in the Coroner’s Court, the senior coroner delivered his conclusion. I remember sitting there listening, with tears streaming down my face, genuinely believing that finally, the truth was out and those responsible for Sally’s death would now have to be held to account. I believed that Sally’s parents and brother had heard the shocking and cruel truth and that the inevitable consequences would have to be taken. Surely, those responsible would not be allowed to continue to practice and knowingly inflict harm on other vulnerable and very sick patients begging for help.

I was wrong. It seems that many lies were told over those eight gruelling days in court. Extremely senior members of staff were protected. Unbelievable cover ups were ‘allowed’ to take place. There wasn’t a mention of a certain event that happened only a couple of hours before Sally died. Every single witness failed to mention this ‘event’ when they were being questioned in court.

Strange isn’t it that four years later, Sally’s heartbroken family are still battling ( and I chose that word carefully, they truly are being forced to fight) for the truth. The truth that absolutely should not have been denied them or withheld from them during their daughter’s inquest.

I’ll leave it here… imagine if any of us lied, under oath, in court. Imagine if we knowingly withheld vital information even when we were questioned by a barrister.
I am sickened to my stomach that this was ‘allowed’ to happen. It’s my own belief that it was actively encouraged to happen.

Sally’s family have a right to know everything about what happened in the last few days and hours of her life, she was supposed to be safe and protected, under the care of a professional team. It appears to me that the only ones being protected are the very professionals that ultimately cost Sally her life. She was only twenty two.

Always and forever Sal. 💜”