THE chief executive of a mental health trust that looks after patients in Basildon and south Essex has apologised for a failure by his service that contributed to the death of a man in its care who killed himself by jumping from a car park at Basildon Hospital.

Paul Scott, the CEO of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), spoke up after an inquest into the death of 43-year-old Martin Bryant, after which Essex Assistant Coroner Rebecca Munday issued a 'Prevention of future deaths report', a mechanism highlighting actions needed to address risks identified during an inquest. Its purpose is to prevent further, similar fatalities.

Mr Scott said: "I would like to share my condolences with Martin's family and friends and to say how sorry I am for their loss. The coroner raises a number of important issues and we will carefully consider these and respond."

Mr Bryant, who had been receiving treatment for acute polymorphic psychotic disorder since 2018, attended the EPUT unit at Basildon Hospital in the early hours of 19 January last year.

His condition was assessed by nurses in the Mental Health Urgent Care and they recommended he be admitted to receive treatment.

However, that required a doctor's authority and while that was being sought Mr Bryant was asked to wait in a reception area, though a concern was raised by his partner that he might leave.

And that fear came to fruition when he left around 10.35am.

He had been asked to remain in the reception area despite concerns raised by his partner he might leave. While waiting, Mr Bryant asked staff if he could step out to vape and visit a nearby shop.

Nurses told the inquest they felt reassured by his willingness to be admitted and did not consider him to be at immediate risk, allowing him to leave.

His body was later discovered after he fell from a nearby car park.

In her report, Ms Munday - who delivered a verdict of suicide on Mr Bryant's death - detailed concerns about open reception areas for people in crisis, limited spaces within mental health urgent care units and ongoing shortages of mental health beds.

EPUT has come under considerable criticism for its record of care between 2000 and 2023 when more than 2,000 mental health-related deaths occured. It is subject to a major ongoing inquiry chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard.

The Lampard Inquiry began in September 2024 and could well run through to the end of this year - or beyond.