The NHS has apologised to the family of a doctor who took her own life during the Covid pandemic after feeling ‘belittled’ at work.

Dr Vaishnavi Kumar, who worked at Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), died after taking a lethal mixture of medication before waiting three hours to call for an ambulance on June 22, 2022.

The 35-year-old, who had been complained to her family about being ‘laughed at’ and criticised by senior colleagues at the hospital, had hoped to leave for another hospital.

But she was told she would have to do a further six months of training at QEH in order to start a new position, something the NHS has now said was a mistake, the BBC reports.

After being told about having to stay at the hospital, her mental health declined and she later took her own life, with her family revealing last year that she left a suicide note in which she said she blamed ‘the whole thing on the QEH’.

Dr Vaishnavi Kumar, of Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital, previously told how the pandemic had 'taken its toll' and took a lethal cocktail of medication before waiting more than three hours to call for an ambulance

Dr Vaishnavi Kumar, of Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital, previously told how the pandemic had ‘taken its toll’ and took a lethal cocktail of medication before waiting more than three hours to call for an ambulance

Her family claim they have now received a letter from NHS bosses in which they have apologised unreservedly and admitted there was no need for her to do the extra training in the first place.

The BBC reports that Dr Navina Evans, chief workforce and training education officer for NHS England, wrote: ‘I wish to unreservedly apologise for these mistakes and for the impact they would have had.

‘As an organisation we are determined to learn… not only across the Midlands but across England as a whole.

‘I will be working with my senior team… to ensure this will be done.’

Dr Kumar’s father, Ravi Kumar – who is also a doctor – said he believes his daughter would be alive if she hadn’t stayed at the hospital.

He previously told the BBC that the QEH had ‘destroyed’ his daughter.

He said: She must have gone through a huge amount of bullying and stress otherwise she is not the girl who would have done this.

‘So people who have done this have done a huge amount of damage and that makes me angry.’

At an inquest into her death in 2022, the court heard Dr Kumar had felt ‘belittled’ at work and struggled to cope during the Covid pandemic.

She had previously told how the pandemic had ‘taken its toll’ and her father said his daughter claimed Queen Elizabeth Hospital was a ‘hypercritical environment to work in’.

Giving evidence at the inquest, her father said: ‘She used to say it was a very hypercritical place. They used to pick up small little things, belittle and be a bit condescending in the way they used to behave there.

‘Most of the time she used to come back home and cry a little bit. There was one particular incident she was mentioning, one of the consultants scoffed at her doing the handover of an acute case.

‘In full public view, she was laughed at. It was very insensitive and she was really very upset at that time.’

Her father said his daughter did not make any complaints about any colleague’s behaviour and ‘got on with her job’.

Dr Kumar's father Ravi Kumar, who is also a doctor, previously told Birmingham Coroner's Court that his daughter felt the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (pictured) was a 'hypercritical environment to work in'

Dr Kumar’s father Ravi Kumar, who is also a doctor, previously told Birmingham Coroner’s Court that his daughter felt the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (pictured) was a ‘hypercritical environment to work in’

The medic, who specialised in diabetes and endocrinology, hoped to finish her placement and accept a position at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

However, her father said when she knew she was not moving to a different hospital, ‘that is when she really started going down’.

He said: ‘She was struggling to cope from December 2021 onwards. She would say ”I don’t want to stay at the QE anymore. I’m looking forward to going to Stoke Hospital”.’

The inquest heard that Dr Kumar’s career was said to be flourishing. Despite a 40-day absence, the talented doctor had caught up with training, which included an e-portfolio, and assessments needed to complete her junior doctor qualification, the hearing was told.

Her training supervisor Dr John Ayuk, a Queen Elizabeth consultant endocrinologist, told the hearing that she did not inform him of any work stresses which could have contributed to her suicidal state of mind. He described his ‘shock and sadness’ at her death.

The hearing was also told that two West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedics were called to Dr Kumar’s home in Edgbaston after 4am on June 22, 2022. She showed them what she had taken and said she had overdosed at 12.30am.

In a statement, medic Lindsey Strudwick said: ‘She had not disclosed why she called an ambulance after she had taken the overdose, so it was unknown if she had any regret of taking the overdose and wanting ambulance assistance or whether she was expecting an ambulance to be dispatched and find her deceased.’

The doctor, who suffered from a condition of low platelet level which causes increased bleeding, told paramedics she worked at the Queen Elizabeth but said ‘under no circumstances would she liked to be conveyed there’.

The paramedic crew also found three typed documents which she had signed.

Dr Kumar's father said she was 'destroyed' by her experience of working at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Dr Kumar’s father said she was ‘destroyed’ by her experience of working at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Birmingham and Solihull Assistant Coroner Ian Dreelan said that Dr Kumar had previously contacted a mental health service in 2019.

She self-referred again later ‘citing work stress and a recent family bereavement as contributory factors’.

Dr Kumar had undergone a telephone assessment on May 28, 2022, where her answers indicated she had ‘severe depression and moderately severe anxiety’.

Mr Dreelan said this led to a referral to a community mental health team but an appointment had not been arranged prior to her death. She was on a waiting list to be seen due to resource shortages and would get an appointment if there was a cancellation. But this information was not passed on to her, the hearing was told.

There was no previous history of suicide attempts or self-harm, the hearing was told.

Mr Dreelan said: ‘The delay that she allowed before she telephoned for an ambulance was left to such an extent that she must have known that by the time she contacted emergency services she would be beyond saving.’

The medical cause of death was cardiac shock from a mixed overdose.

The coroner said there was a ‘combination of factors’ which led her to wanting to take her own life. ‘There was an underlying medical condition, which was managed, but over a passage of time must have been a drain on her both psychologically and emotionally,’ he said.

‘Also the family bereavement she had suffered and the work stress she had experienced and mentioned to a clinician when she sought help.’

Dr Kumar – a chief registrar at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust during the pandemic – was also described as a ‘perfectionist’, which the coroner said can invite pressure onto individuals where ‘everything has to be perfect’.

He added: ‘When that isn’t the case, the perception of pressure is greater than others in their own situation.’

Giving his conclusion, Mr Dreelan said: ‘Vaish intended to take her own life and she intended to do so at the time she took it. I will find a conclusion of suicide in this case on the balance of probabilities and from the evidence I have heard.’

After the case, a spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) said: ‘Dr Vaishnavi Kumar was a much loved and respected doctor who was popular with colleagues and patients alike.

‘Her unexpected death was a tragedy, and our heartfelt condolences remain with Vaishnavi’s family.’

MailOnline has contacted University Hospital Birmingham and NHS England for comment. 

Post source: Daily mail

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