The death of an Oxfordshire woman was the result of complications relating to anorexia, an inquest has heard.

Genevieve Bernard, 28, of The Green, Clanfield in West Oxfordshire, was an in-patient at Cotswold House specialist adult eating disorder service when she was admitted to John Radcliffe hospital with complications relating to anorexia nervosa in March this year.

She was suffering with multiple organ failure and bronchopleural fistula, and passed away hours later, surrounded by her family, on March 10.

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Miss Bernard had been suffering from severe anorexia, an eating disorder, for more than a decade.

Despite her illness, Miss Bernard achieved a first-class honours degree in sociology and anthropology from Exeter University.

A statement from her psychiatrist read out in the coroner’s court said: “It was clear how much she desperately did want to recover from her anorexia and one day wanted to have her own life, family and career.”

A consultant psychiatrist from Orchard House, Dr Jane Boydell, agreed that the years of her degree “were good years for her from her perspective, she seemed to have done well,” but it was during the Covid-19 lockdowns that she deteriorated again, like many patients in similar positions.

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The family of Miss Bernard raised some issues with the care provided by Orchard House following her death. This included insufficient capabilities of the specialist service to provide physical care, such as changing wound dressings.

It also referred to patients being refused additional water, explained by the service as being a safety measure as too much water can be dangerous for severely underweight patients, but which led to further complications in the case of Miss Bernard.

There were also failures in staffing, as when Miss Bernard received no psychiatric care while a patient at Orchard House – a “key part” of treatment – as there was no psychiatrist employed due to staff absence and unfilled posts.

Dr Boydell said that these issues have since been identified and resolved but added: “There was a lack when Genevieve was here and for that I am very sorry.”

In his conclusion, area coroner Mr Nicholas Graham referenced these shortcomings and said there were “a number of areas of improvement in terms of Genevieve’s care.”

He added: “Although I do not believe they were causative of her death they have been identified and are being taken forward with some diligence” by Oxford Health Trust.

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Dr Boydell praised the "incredible support" of Miss Bernard's family, who visited her daily and cared for her at home. 

The coroner provided a narrative conclusion that Miss Bernard suffered with anorexia nervosa, was admitted to hospital and died of conditions relating to chest sepsis.

If you’re affected by the issues in this article, contact Samaritans by calling 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org or visiting samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

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