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Ruth Szymankiewicz: Death of teenager at intensive psychiatric care unit ruled as unlawful killing

The 14-year-old died after being left unsupervised for 15 minutes by an agency worker using a fake ID amid severe staff shortages, an inquest jury found.

  • On Thursday, an inquest jury at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court in Beaconsfield returned a conclusion of unlawful killing of 14-year-old Ruth Szymankiewicz.
  • On February 12, 2022, Ruth Szymankiewicz was left unsupervised despite being under strict one-to-one observation at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire, a police investigation found the agency worker was hired under a false name.
  • Amid staffing gaps on Thames ward, CCTV footage showed agency worker Ebo Acheampong leaving her unsupervised, enabling her to walk out of the day room.
  • Following the poor rating, the Care Quality Commission rated Huntercombe Hospital overall inadequate in February 2021, and Active Care Group has since closed the facility.
  • A spokesperson for the hospital provider committed to learning lessons from this inquest and other inquests to prevent future tragedies.
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Death of girl left alone by fake ID worker was unlawful, jury inquest concludes

Ruth Szymankiewicz, 14, should have been under constant watch at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire when she was left unsupervised.

·London, United Kingdom
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The Independent broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
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