Winchester boy was 'let down by the system' inquest told

Those were the words of a Hampshire woman whose son died while he was seeking help for his mental health.

Rammond Jason Higgs, 18, of Swithun Way, Winchester, died at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital on April 21, 2021.

The inquest, which began on Monday, December 8, and lasted five days, heard that Mr Higgs died while trying to seek help for his mental health. As previously reported, his aunt, Fay Higgs, has said that she felt 'side-lined' by the mental health services trying to care for her nephew, who she had looked after since 2005.

On Monday, December 15, senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson said that he felt there was sufficient evidence that Mr Higgs had committed suicide, with a range of failings which had led to his death.

Mr Wilkinson said that there had been communication failings within the mental health services when it came to transitioning Mr Higgs from CAMHS to adult mental health services and in terms of discussing his mental health with his family, and that more could have been done to involve Ms Higgs. The coroner also found that care co-ordinators had been unable to forge a therapeutic relationship with Mr Higgs and that he had struggled to adjust to different prescribed medications due to difficulty onboarding them, and that there was a lack of clarity within the care teams in terms of what was permissible and possible in regards to the transition window.

He also voiced his concerns over the quality of training given to NHS mental health professionals on how to treat neurodivergent patients, although was reassured by a representative that increased guidance on the subject is now normal in the health sector.

Rammond Higgs in 2021 (Image: Fay Higgs)

However, Mr Wilkinson said that the failures were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which had caused pressure on mental health services.

He said: “Mr Higgs had said that he felt let down by the system and I believe he was, but not in the way he perceived it. The people who tried to help Rammond did it with good intentions, but were under pressure while trying to aid him. This resulted in them being unable to support him.”

Mr Wilkinson said that he would issue a prevention of future death report following the inquest due to his concerns.

Addressing Mr Higgs’ family, he said: “I express to you my deep feelings of regret and condolences. As a father myself, I can only imagine the sadness you have felt the past few years. I can only apologise that it took so many years to come to inquest.

“I know it does not change anything or bring Rammond back, but I do hope you have fond memories of him and happy times you can reflect on. I am sure he would not want to be remembered in a bad way, he would want to be remembered as the smart boy he was.”

Speaking to the Chronicle following the inquest, Ms Higgs, who now lives in New Milton, said: “The coroner has indicated that he will be issuing a prevention of future death report. I am very grateful to him. I hope it can bring about change. Going to an inquest knowing what I did after he died, and waiting all these years, for me it was not about finding out answers for myself, it was about Rammond had said about being failed.

“For me, it was important to be there and help in finding where they had failed, so changes could be made. I hope this is a small step towards that.”

Ms Higgs described her son as “a son, brother, and friend whose warmth, intelligence, and humour touched everyone he met.”

She said: “He came to live with me when he was just two and a half. A shy little boy with bright blue eyes, curly blond hair, and a teddy he clung to. He was a fussy eater, surviving mostly on blackcurrant squash and snacks. By eighteen, not much had changed—though he had moved on to J20 and Domino’s pizza.

“My life, and (his brother) Romeo’s, has been immeasurably better for having Rammond in it, and it will never be the same without him.”

Ms Higgs was represented through the inquest by Jake Rylatt of Serjeanrs Inn Chambers and Will Whitaker of Bindmans LLP.

Mr Whitaker said: “Rammond’s family have waited four and a half years to get answers explaining what happened to Rammond and why.  The issues the Coroner raised were wide and sadly reflect all too common problems that young people experience when moving from children to adult services.  It is hoped that the Coroner’s reflections and findings will assist those responsible for policy and practice in the area, and that we see less of these sorts of incidents in future.”

If you would like any help with bereavement, loss or mental wellbeing, here are some helpline numbers:

Call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go online at samaritans.org

Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840 childbereavementuk.org