A PATIENT at a mental health hospital died after choking on his food, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Mawdsley was the first patient admitted to Ash House Rehabilitation Centre in Orford after its opening in 2016.

But he died after choking on a sprout in the mental health hospital, with Warrington Coroners Court hearing that the vegetable should have been cut up for the 50-year-old before being given to him.

An inquest on Friday, November 15, heard that Mr Mawdsley had been diagnosed with schizophrenia – having suffered from mental health problems since he was a teenager.

He was sectioned in December 2015 and admitted to Hollins Park Hospital, where he remained until the following April.

Mr Mawdsley was then moved into Ash House, which had first opened its doors on Norris Street two months earlier.

Warrington Guardian:

Ash House Rehabilitation Centre, which is now known as Maple House - picture by Google Maps

On October 25 2016, he was given his evening meal of chicken, potatoes, sprouts and broccoli.

Care plans stated that his food should have been cut up into pieces no larger than 1cm ‘due to ongoing problems with swallowing and choking’.

While the chicken and potatoes were cut up for Mr Mawdsley, the vegetables were not – and he choked on a large sprout and collapsed.

Having been rushed to Warrington Hospital’s intensive care unit, it was discovered that a lack of oxygen had caused a severe brain injury and his family agreed to turn off his life support machine on November 4.

Mr Mawdsley, described by his loved ones as a ‘really kind person and a good man’, died a week later on November 11.

Warrington Guardian:

Stephen pictured with nephew Joel as a baby

A lengthy police investigation followed, but no criminal charges were brought over his death.

Former staff members at Ash House raised concerns about the ‘disorganised’ hospital during the inquest, with support workers highlighting confusion over where patients’ dietary plans were kept.

Giving her evidence, Laura Wills believed that practices should have seen food cut up in the kitchen rather than by the support workers who gave patients their meals.

She also expressed worries over the hospital’s cook only working until 3pm, at which point she would take on the role of a cleaner – leaving support workers to finish cooking pre-prepared evening meals.

Ms Wills said: “It was very disorganised, I don’t know why it was like that.

“The food should have been cut up in the kitchen and the cook should have been kept on until 5pm.”

Julie Peachey, the support worker who cut up the chicken and potatoes and gave Mr Mawdsley his meal, was unaware that he required all of his food to be cut into 1cm pieces.

She added: “I cut up the chicken and potatoes but not the broccoli and sprouts – I genuinely thought they were soft enough to eat.

“I hadn’t seen any food plan until two days after the incident.

“Nobody ever told me, I’d just seen other members of staff doing it – that’s how I knew what I needed to do.”

Heath Westerman, assistant coroner for Cheshire, recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

He said: “Stephen was assessed as being at a high risk of choking due to overload his mouth with food and eating too quickly.

“As a consequence, I believe that this was an incident which was an accident.

“I extend my sincere condolences to the family, and I hope that this can now bring some closure to this incident after such a long delay.”

Warrington Guardian:

A spokesman for Ash House, which is now known as Maple House Rehabilitation Centre, told the Warrington Guardian: "Following the tragic accident, as found by the coroner on Friday, many changes were implemented - including a review of the induction and training processes.

"Staff supervision was monitored, alongside other quality measures.

"The hospital was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in early 2018, and was rated as good in all areas - which further reinforced the changes that had already been implemented."