'Staff slept' while man was strangled to death in NHS unit by fellow patient - before falsifying records to claim they'd seen him alive

A patient was beaten and then strangled to death on a mental health ward while a staff member took a two-hour nap in a therapy room, an inquest has heard. Hugo Flint-Cahan, 34, was being treated at Newham Mental Health Centre (NMHC), run by the East London NHS Trust (ELFT), when he was fatally attacked by Rolando Torres-Pena, 22, during the early hours of January 3, 2023. Nurses Rosemary Chukwuji-Ohanachum and Raji Olagunju were in a closed-door staff room and healthcare assistant Anthony Onuh was asleep in a therapy room. Mr Flint-Cahan, who was unsettled that evening, was last seen on CCTV at 1.22am before he went into Torres-Pena's bedroom and disappeared from view. Torres-Pena, who was paranoid and had arrived on the ward five days earlier, was pacing the corridors before he was last seen on CCTV at 1.26am.While the exact time of the attack is unclear, a patient in the room next-door appears in the corridor seemingly disturbed by something at 1.31am. It is now believed he was watching Mr Flint-Cahan's dying moments. Just before 2am, Torres-Pena reappeared in the corridor wearing a towel around his waist after he removed his blood-soaked trousers. Hugo Flint-Cahan, 34, was being treated at Newham Mental Health Centre (NMHC) in London , run by the East London NHAS Trust (ELFT) when he was fatally attacked by Rolando Torres-Pena, 22, during the early hours of January 3, 2023 Mr Flint-Cahan, who was unsettled that evening, was last captured on CCTV (pictured) at 1.22am before he went into Torres-Pena's bedroom Torres-Pena, who was paranoid and had arrived on the ward five days earlier, was pacing the corridors before he was last seen on CCTV (pictured) at 1.26amAround the same time, Onuh emerged from the therapy room holding bedding. Chukwuji-Ohanachum is seen heading into the same room holding blankets. It took staff almost two hours to discover Mr Flint-Cahan's body. Emergency services were called 18 minutes later at 3.37am. Olagunju, who found the body, did not attempt CPR or raise the alarm. He instead went to alert the night manager Alex Obamwonyi. Witnesses described Chukwuji-Ohanachum screaming and throwing herself to the ground while a staff member performed chest compressions from 3.45am. Mr Flint-Cahan was declared dead at 4.41am. Patients at the facility are supposed to be observed by a nurse every hour. Falsified records at 2am and 3am stated Mr Flint-Cahan was in his room. Onuh admitted to filling the document out without checking where patients were. Torres-Pena admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and received a hospital order without time limit. Around 2am, Torres-Pena reappeared in the corridor wearing a towel around his waist after he removed his blood-soaked trousers (CCTV of the moment is pictured) Hugo's father, William Flint-Cahan, who attended each day of the inquest with other family members said his son's death was 'preventable had the level of care been as it should have been' and there was 'complacency' by staffGraeme Irvine, the Senior Coroner for East London, concluded neglect was a factor in the unlawful killing at an inquest on Monday. The coroner described repeated failings by the Trust as 'groundhog day' as he heard evidence of the same mistakes 'over and over again'. He recommended four members of staff be referred to their regulator and that the Metropolitan Police review their investigation into the incident. His brother, NHS doctor Jolyon Flint-Cahan, made a statement after the inquest.He said: 'Hugo, the patient that killed him, and both of our families were utterly failed by the staff on duty that night and the lack of ability by the Trust management to investigate their own staff's failings to previous deaths.'His father, William Flint-Cahan, who attended each day of the inquest with other family members said his son's death was 'preventable had the level of care been as it should have been' and there was 'complacency' by staff. Dr David Bridle, Chief Medical Officer at ELFT, said the Trust was deeply sorry to Mr Flint-Cahan's family for the failings in his care. He said the trust had undertaken a significant programme of work to 'improve our inpatient culture, behaviours and practice'.Dr Bridle said: 'Hugo's care fell well below the standards we want to provide. The coroner raised serious concerns regarding behaviours and actions of the staff on duty that evening, and how they didn't keep to established procedures for safe care. 'We agree this is wholly unacceptable and does not reflect the standards, values or behaviours we expect. One member of staff has been dismissed. 'Others involved are subject to further investigation. 'Since Hugo's sad death in 2023, we have undertaken a significant programme of work to improve our inpatient culture, behaviours and practice. 'We will ensure the learning from the coroner's findings informs our continuing work to strengthen patient safety and care.'Over the last 12 years, coroners have sent 29 prevention of future deaths reports to the East London NHS Trust. More than half cited failures to assess patients' risk to themselves or others, BBC analysis found. The Daily Mail has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.