A CORONER has raised concerns over the provision of mental health services for terminally ill patients – after a man with advanced cancer took his own life.

Stephen Lindsay, 71, was discovered dead by a neighbour at his home on Solway View in Tallentire, Cockermouth, on February 28 this year.

The retired mechanic had been diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer in 2023 and had been struggling with the physical and mental effects of the disease.

Mr Lindsay was born and raised in Workington and was an only child. He moved to Tallentire with his parents and remained in the family home following their deaths. He had no immediate family.

He worked as a mechanic with Lloyds Motors and M-Sport and also worked as a security guard with Lloyds. He had retired about eight years ago.

Mr Lindsay was described by his cousin, Richard Lindsay, as a ‘quiet person’ who was ‘clearly liked’ by many people in Tallentire.

An inquest into his death held at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard David Ostle, a neighbour of Mr Lindsay, had been asked to go round and check on him on February 28.

Mr Ostle arrived at the address and saw the curtains and blinds were drawn. There was no answer at the door, which was unlocked. Mr Ostle went inside and discovered Mr Lindsay in the kitchen.

Emergency services were called to the scene but Mr Lindsay was pronounced dead.

The inquest heard that Mr Lindsay had been suffering with depression linked to his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Deborah Mawson, a clinical nurse specialist with the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust mental health services, said Mr Lindsay had presented with low mood and suicidal ideation associated with his cancer diagnosis in January.

A referral was made to mental health services by the palliative care team but the community mental health team did not offer treatment in these circumstances and the referral was declined.

A statement from Mr Lindsay’s general practitioner at Aspatria Medical Group said Mr Lindsay had been diagnosed with depression associated with chronic pain in 2019.

A GP had visited Mr Lindsay on January 16, 2024, and he had reported no further suicidal thoughts. His GP said she was not sure what more could have been done to avoid the outcome.

The medical cause of death was given as hanging. Robert Cohen, assistant coroner for Cumbria, concluded that Mr Lindsay died by suicide.

In his concluding statements, Mr Cohen referred to the discussions that had taken place between the community mental health team at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and the palliative care team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

He said there was a ‘real concern’ that the disagreement between the two bodies that they were not required to provide support could result in future deaths.

Mr Cohen stressed this was not to say that it made any contribution in Mr Lindsay’s case, referring to the evidence form his GP that ‘there was very little else that could be done’. The coroner said this ‘may well be true’.

But Mr Cohen said it seemed there was a risk of future deaths. He added that he would send his findings to the responsible agencies to consider whether they should take action to clarify who should provide care to people in Stephen Lindsay’s situation.

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