A PATIENT at a mental health unit in Wickford was found dead with 30 stab wounds to her neck and chest, an inquest heard.

Marion Michel, 56, of Jersey, died on March 4, 2022, while detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 as an inpatient at Brockfield House in Wickford, which is managed by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

Marion died of self-inflicted stab wounds and was not considered as a high risk of self-harm.

The inquest, held at the Coroner’s Office in Chelmsford, was heard by area coroner Sean Horstead.

It heard that Marion had been trusted to use an 18cm kitchen knife to prepare food.

In a statement, Marion’s family said: “Marion was kind and generous with a lovely smile and a hearty and at-times mischievous laugh.

“She was loyal, maintaining strong links with friends and family.”

Marion was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1998 and had a history of intense periods of mental illness when she would hurt herself and, on two occasions, her partner.

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She was transferred to Brockfield House in 2018, after having been convicted of assault that year.

When she died, Marion was found locked in a bathroom with 30 stab wounds to her neck and chest.

In the months before her death, Marion was transferred to the Aurora unit of Brockfield house.

This unit gave patients more freedoms such as the chance to self-cater.

Marion was granted these freedoms as prior assessments were made to check her suitability with non sharp cooking tools and sharp cooking tools.

These assessments took place in March and June 2019 respectively with the results being discussed at Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings.

A further community assessment was conducted in July 2020 to determine Marion’s suitability to leave the ward and buy ingredients for her cooking sessions.

Once all checks were complete, Marion was allowed to self-cater with knives under the supervision of nurses in the Aurora unit.

Brockfield House is currently part of a public inquiry into mental health related deaths in Essex between 2000 and 2020, as Marion died in 2022 her death does not fall under the inquiry.

The inquest is expected to conclude on July 14.