Health professionals failed Thorpe – inquest

Prior to his suicide, former England cricketer Graham Thorpe’s care suffered shortcomings, according to a coroner’s report.

An inquest was held at Surrey Coroner’s Court in Woking after medical professionals learned that Mr. Thorpe had asked his wife “for help ending his life” weeks before he passed away.

The 55-year-old was regarded as one of his generation’s top English players.

He was alleged to have “spiralled into depression” after losing his job as a batting coach and having twice attempted to commit suicide.

Care coordinator Katie Johnson contacted Mrs. Thorpe on the phone after Mr. Thorpe missed a meeting with the community mental health team on June 28, 2024, and she claimed that her husband was “constantly asking for help end his life.”

The inquest heard that Ms. Johnson then spoke to Mr. Thorpe, who claimed he “hadn’t been out for a while” and “didn’t see the point of being here” but had no upcoming plans to stop him from suicidal thoughts.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust conducted an investigation after his death.

Dr. Burgul questioned whether scheduling an appointment in two weeks would be appropriate in the absence of Mr. Thorpe’s “active intent” or “active plan.”

She claimed that Mr. Thorpe’s behavior did not warrant the intervention of the home treatment team.

When the psychiatrist was questioned if there was any proof that a different outcome would have resulted from an in-person assessment of Mr. Thorpe, she said “no.”

The psychiatrist was questioned about making an immediate appointment with Mr. Thorpe because the phone conversation was over.

According to her, “in the wisdom of the past, a home visit would have been clinically indicated.”

A risk panel recommended that it be looked into in June 2024, according to Dr. Burgul to the court, and this was never done by the private provider or the GP.

Given that the cricketer had missed some appointments, the psychiatrist said: “Yes, it’s a possibility.

A pathologist identified Mr. Thorpe’s cause of death as a number of injuries, according to the coroner.

His widow claimed that Graham’s resignation from his position with the England and Wales Cricket Board “set the tone for the decline of his mental health.”