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Inquest Opens Into Death of 12-Year-Old Mia Lucas at Sheffield Mental Health Unit

Jurors are being asked to scrutinize her placement at the Becton Centre with a focus on risk assessments.

Overview

  • Mia Lucas was admitted to Queen’s Medical Centre on December 31, 2023, detained under the Mental Health Act in early January, and transferred to Sheffield’s Becton Centre on January 9.
  • Clinical witnesses described an acute psychotic presentation with hallucinations and delusional fears, with evidence noting recent intense bullying and a viral illness as possible factors.
  • Nottinghamshire CAMHS had no prior contact with Mia before her grandmother sought help on New Year’s Eve, according to inquest testimony.
  • Staff found Mia unresponsive in her room on January 29; she was pronounced dead the next day at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
  • Testimony highlighted limited options for under-13 inpatients and reported self-harm risks on the ward, as the two-week inquest hears from Nottingham and Sheffield NHS trusts.