Hertfordshire police investigating death of Margaret Molyneux

Margaret Molyneux, an English literature lecturer aged 69 from Bishops Stortford, died at Watford General Hospital after choking in July 2017.

But despite a coroner initially concluding that Ms Molyneux died of ‘natural causes’, her daughter Petria Foley believes it was triggered by high dosages of the anti-psychotic drug olanzapine prescribed at Kingfisher Court, a mental health unit in Harper Lane, near Radlett.

While the drug can be used to treat mental health disorders including bipolar, it can also trigger a side effects, including seizures, difficulty breathing and problems with swallowing.

And after a review found that Ms Molyneux was prescribed higher than recommended doses of the drug, Hertfordshire Constabulary has launched an investigation into allegations of gross negligence manslaughter.

Investigations are ongoing into the death of Margaret Molyneux (Photo: Family handout)

The lecturer was admitted to Kingfisher Court, which is run by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, after suffering a bipolar relapse in March 2017, which is when she was prescribed olanzapine.

According to her daughter, the mother of two began to suffer with pneumonia and other issues including dysphagia, causing a struggle to swallow.

After her admission to Watford General Hospital, she was sent back to the Radlett unit with written advice to find alternative medication - which Miss Foley says was ignored.

After being readmitted to hospital on July 2 Mrs Molyneux choked while eating porridge and died three days later at the hospital on July 5.

Speaking to the Watford Observer, her daughter said: “It’s my belief that the high dose antipsychotic therapy forced upon my mother by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust caused her to die.

“She was meant to be in a place of safety, and I still cannot understand why the dangerous dosages were continued and that advice to use alternative medication was ignored.

“I hope that the investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary uncovers the truth, that it leads to justice for my mother, and safer care for patients when they are detained under the Mental Health Act.”

Investigations are ongoing into the death of Margaret Molyneux (Photo: Family handout)

Hertfordshire Constabulary has confirmed that inquiries are being carried out and that an investigation is continuing.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust said: “We continue to offer our condolences to Ms Molyneux’s family for their loss.

"We shared the findings of our investigation into Ms Molyneux’s care with her family and are currently helping the police with their enquiries, so it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage."