A mental health nurse who worked under UK’s National Health Service (NHS) killed herself for being unable to have a social life due to stress of working 12-hour hospital shift, an inquest has heard.
Leona Goddard, 35, had difficulties maintaining a relationship after being landed with unpredictable work hours and extra responsibilities at Prestwich Hospital in Manchester.
She had been adjudged ‘outstanding’ by her colleagues due to her commitment, Igbere TV reports.
The 35-year-old was, however, found hanged at her family home by mother, Corrine Goodridge, on October 3 2018, just six months after she got a promotion.
She began working at the hospital in June 2016 and was promoted to senior staff nurse in June 2018.Miss Goddard left behind a hand-written note detailing her ‘negative feelings’.
The inquest was told Goddard had wanted to work as an occupational therapist but studied nursing and psychology and graduated at Manchester University in 2012.
A doctor’s report was read to the hearing which said that Goddard had been to see her GP in the weeks leading up to her death.
The deceased’s ex-boyfriend, Peter Schaffer, who ended their relationship a week before her death, told the inquest that he wanted to give her space and then talk to her again after the NHS offered her a new position without guarantee of less work hours.
“I’ve considered all the evidence read and heard it seems that Leona was under a great deal of stress going on for a long time.
She had very low self-esteem and did not recognise in herself the person that everybody else saw,” coroner Angharad Davis said, recording a conclusion of suicide.
