A RESPECTED child psychiatrist who plunged from Poole Hospital’s multi-storey car park was wracked with guilt after the suicide of one of his patients, an inquest heard.

Dr Peter Hardwick, 66, lapsed into a bout of severe depression after his 16-year-old patient jumped from a cliff in West Dorset late last year, the hearing was told.

His best friend and fellow child psychiatrist Dr Stephen Stanley told the Bournemouth inquest he was so concerned about Dr Hardwick when he visited him on October 15 last year that he tried to get him admitted to St Ann’s psychiatric hospital but was unable to get past the receptionist on the out-of-hours service.

Father-of-three Dr Hardwick, of Greenhill Close, Wimborne, then suffered a seizure and was taken to Poole Hospital. But on October 16 he left the hospital and made his way to the top of the car park. He was then seen to fall to the ground.

His devastated family say they recognised Dr Hardwick was severely depressed and had urged hospital staff to organise a psychiatric assessment and monitor him.

They claim the hospital did not prioritise his mental health problems and could have done more to protect Dr Hardwick, who was found outside trying to climb the railings just hours before he died.

Dr Stanley said he had made several attempts to give ambulance and hospital staff details of Dr Hardwick’s previous history of depression, which included a spell in Marchwood Priory where he had attempted to take his own life.

“I was deeply concerned but also angry this could happen at a place of safety,” he said. “I was also frustrated that I had not been able to get through to staff and pass on details.

“Nothing will bring Peter back but it would be a real tragedy if nothing changes after this unnecessary death.”

Hospital staff giving evidence at the inquest said Dr Hardwick was disorientated and confused but this was put down to his extremely low sodium level.

Dr Elizabeth Williams said: “I planned to speak to a psychiatrist the next day but there was nothing that led me to think that this needed to be urgently outside of normal working hours.”

And staff nurse Rebecca Oliver said: “I don’t have any recollection of his family saying that he needed an urgent psychiatrist referral to me.”

The inquest continues.