THE family of troubled Luke Bitmead face another agonising wait for the conclusion to his inquest.

Swindon and Wiltshire Coroner David Ridley apologised not only for the initial delays in bringing the inquest but the further delay created by the volume of evidence surrounding the 34-year-old’s apparent suicide.

It is now thought Mr Ridley, who was sitting at Trowbridge Coroner’s Court, will not deliver a verdict on the case until October.

On what was meant to be the final day of the five day inquest into Luke’s tragic death, the court heard how procedures at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust, Great Western Hospital (GWH) and Swindon Borough Council have changed to prevent the potential failures which allowed Luke, pictured, who was receiving treatment at GWH following an overdose, to discharge himself. Luke’s mum Elaine Hanson, who has campaigned tirelessly for greater awareness of mental health issues, argues that the law in the UK should be changed to ensure vulnerable people at risk of self-harm cannot discharge themselves from hospital.

“I’m attempting to channel my grief in a dignified and meaningful way,” she said after the inquest.

“First of course I am a grieving mother and I want to use my grief in a way that is beneficial to society, with the intention of preventing similar tragedies happening in the future.”

Mrs Hanson stayed by her son’s bedside until the early hours of October 27 when she was advised to go home to try to get a few hours sleep. Shortly after she left, Luke discharged himself from the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and took a taxi to the Brunel West Car Park in Farnsby Street where he jumped 30ft to his death.

He was re-admitted just an hour after he left and, when doctors said there was nothing more they could do, Mrs Hanson and her husband, Luke’s stepfather Chris, agreed his life support machine be turned off. He died at 10am after suffering multi organ failure.

Director of nursing and midwifery at GWH, Sue Rowley broke into tears as she apologised to Mrs Hanson during her evidence.

“If you felt we could have done more then I am sorry,” she said.

The hospital have had a major overhaul in mental health awareness and procedures since the tragedy four years ago, some changes implemented immediately after Luke’s death.

Those responsible for accepting section papers are now on site to prevent a delay in sectioning a patient.

All site managers are au fait with the Mental Health Act so that if advice is sought from staff they can act.

Speaking following the adjournment, Mrs Hanson said: “This is not ideal but I am grateful that the five days set aside for Luke’s inquest has enabled us to hear a full and detailed account of the facts surrounding his death and I am sincerely grateful to the coroner for that.”