A 'beautiful' mother-of-two who was found hanged said she was 'better off dead' as she waited three years for an ADHD assessment, an inquest has heard.
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inquest → find → assessment
Bethany Hewitt, 34, was found hanged in Runcorn, Cheshire, on February 22.
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Hewitt → find → February
Her death came just 19 days after she disclosed she had experienced suicidal ideation and thoughts of hurting herself during a GP appointment on February 3.
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she → come → February
She scored a 15/27 on a PHQ9 questionnaire, which is used as a screening tool by healthcare professionals to measure the presence and severity of depression.
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which → score → depression
Ms Hewitt's result was just one point below what healthcare guidelines say should prompt 'an urgent referral to specialist mental health services'.
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guidelines → say → services
She denied any active plans for suicide and the GP did not make plans for a follow-up appointment, her inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court heard.
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inquest → deny → Court
Additionally, it was decided Ms Hewitt would not be referred to secondary mental health services or for an urgent Mental Health Act assessment.
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Hewitt → decide → assessment
At the time of her death, she had not received an ADHD diagnostic assessment despite being first referred for one three years earlier.
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she → receive → one
Mother-of-two Bethany Hewitt, 34, who was found hanged said she was 'better off dead' as she waited three years for an ADHD assessment, an inquest has heard
Ms Hewitt was first referred to ADHD Service Halton, part of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, by the Primary Care Mental Health Team, on February 16, 2023.
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Hewitt → find → February
Over a year later, on October 21, 2024, Ms Hewitt spoke to a GP at Grove House Medical Practice in Runcorn, Cheshire, where she was based.
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she → speak → Runcorn
Ms Hewitt was in tears as she told how her symptoms were 'worsening' and she was 'very anxious' and struggling to complete everyday tasks.
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she → tell → tasks
The GP made a request for an expedited ADHD assessment on November 6.
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GP → make → November
Ms Hewitt also began a 25mg dose of the anti-depressant sertraline.
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Hewitt → begin → sertraline
She was warned side effects included an 'increased risk of suicidal ideation'.
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effects → warn → ideation
A follow-up appointment 'was not made despite starting this medication'.
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appointment → follow → medication
On November 19, a reply from ADHD Service Halton said Ms Hewitt's expedited assessment had been rejected due to 'insufficient evidence'.
However, this reply was not shown to the GP who made the expedited referral nor was it shown to any other GP, leaving Ms Hewitt in limbo.
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it → say → limbo
Ms Hewitt's death came just 19 days after she disclosed she had experienced suicidal ideation and thoughts of hurting herself during a GP appointment on February 3
Sarah Murphy, Assistant Coroner for Cheshire, has now written a Prevention of Future Deaths report to avoid deaths in similar circumstances.
She concluded that it was 'likely' that the long wait for an ADHD assessment and a worsening in perceived symptoms led to a decline in Ms Hewitt's mental health.
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wait → come → health
The inquest found 'the question of intent' remains unclear.
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question → find → intent
Ms Murphy said: 'Bethany Hewitt had been waiting for three years for an ADHD diagnostic assessment and had not been assessed at the time of her death.
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Hewitt → say → death
I heard evidence that there are no national guidelines in relation to the ADHD referral process or expedited assessments.
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I → hear → process
I am concerned that this may result in an inconsistent approach, and that waiting times may vary across the country, with patients not knowing how long they should be expected to wait for a diagnostic assessment.'
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they → result → assessment
The Prevention of Future Deaths report said: 'On February 2, 2026, the Duty Practitioner at the surgery arranged a GP consultation the following day for Ms Hewitt after she had disclosed suicidal ideation on a PHQ9 questionnaire.
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she → say → questionnaire
In the questionnaire, Ms Hewitt had reported that for several days over the last two weeks, she had been bothered by thoughts that she would be better off dead, or hurting herself in some way.'
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she → report → way
'At the GP consultation on the February 3 2026, Ms Hewitt reported that the reasons for her responses in the questionnaires were the wait for an ADHD assessment and a worsening in perceived ADHD symptoms.
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reasons → report → symptoms
It was determined that it was not clinically indicated to refer Ms Hewitt to secondary mental health services or for an urgent Mental Health Act assessment.
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it → determine → assessment
She denied any active plans for suicide.'
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She → deny → suicide
The inquest heard ADHD Service Halton receives around 60 expedited requests per month and has about 100 referrals per month.
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Halton → hear → month
Up to 1,250 patients are awaiting assessment for ADHD.
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patients → await → ADHD
Dozens of loved ones shared tributes to Ms Hewitt on a Much Loved page.
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Dozens → love → page
One person wrote: 'Beth, you'll be so dearly missed.
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you → write → ?
Your beautiful smile and vibrant energy could light up any room.
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smile → light → room
Another said: 'RIP Beth, a shining star, always full of fun.
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Another → say → fun
A third wrote: 'We will cherish all of our special memories from family parties, camping and villa holidays.
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We → write → parties
You were the life and soul of the party, dancing all night.
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You → dance → party
'We've watched you grow from a child into a young beautiful woman.
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you → watch → woman
'May your legacy shine bright forever.'
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legacy → shine → ?
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