A GRIEVING son believes his mother would still be alive if she had not been "suddenly" discharged from a mental hospital.

Ferndown widow Joyce Hatch, 82, was found drowned in six inches of water in her bath six days after being sent home from St Ann's in Poole. Her family say they were not officially told she was being discharged.

Deputy district coroner Jonathan Morrissey recorded an open verdict on the death, but said he could not believe Mrs Hatch, of Fernlea Avenue, Ferndown, had been trying to kill herself.

"If she was attempting to commit suicide, I have absolutely no doubt she would have left some kind of note," he said.

Mrs Hatch's son David told the court his mother had mobility problems and became depressed after a hip operation was cancelled.

In March she was admitted to Poole Hospital on a voluntary basis following an apparent suicide attempt, then spent two months in St Ann's. "My sister was told she would possibly be released at the end of June, beginning of July," said Mr Hatch.

In the event, his mother was discharged on June 10. "We weren't officially informed she was coming home at all. My mother informed my sister.

"I don't think when she came home she was suicidal, on the other hand I don't think St Ann's should have discharged her when they did."

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Peter Kanisius said Mrs Hatch's discharge was first mentioned on May 13 and she had been gradually prepared with periods of home leave. Her risk of suicide was assessed as low.

After the inquest, a spokeswoman for Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust, which runs St Ann's said: "We cannot comment on individual cases but our thoughts are with Mrs Hatch's family at this time."

First published: September 2, 2005