News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Nurse Stuart Beddows was passionate about the job he loved and the people he cared for.

Working at a Black County hospital, he believed in treating his patients with the best care possible.

But despite his dedication, eventually came disillusionment.

For after working at Walsall's Manor Hospital for 15 years the staff shortages and pressures took their toll.

And in September this year Stuart, 43, was unable to cope and tragically took his own life.

“Stuart loved being a nurse. But he felt people’s lives were at risk in his department because of the lack of staff,” his devastated mum Maureen, 74, told the Birmingham Mail.

“He would work more than 12 hours a day, only having time for one cup of coffee. There just wasn’t enough staff and he was working evenings and Saturdays too.”

Stuart, who began his nursing training aged 18, landed a permanent job at the hospital in 1999 and worked his way up to lead nurse practitioner in Endoscopy.

But as time went on he began to feel the strain.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

At an inquest into his death Black Country coroner Zafar Siddique ruled Stuart intended to take his own life.

Maureen, a former part-time shop assistant, explained: “It was always a very stressful position, any nursing job when dealing with people’s lives is. But as time went on, the stress and pressure built up.

“He liked everything to be right and had very high standards. But he became disillusioned over the last couple of years. It became harder to reach the targets.

“He still liked his job but felt he couldn’t do his best. He wasn’t getting the support he needed or the resources.”

Stuart’s sister Mandy Hicken added: “There wasn’t enough staff. He was working long hours without proper lunch breaks.

“I remember him telling me that he worked a 12 hour shift and had only enough time to drink one cup of coffee - there was no time for food.

“He was also working extra clinics during the evening and at weekends. It was all classed as overtime but he needed to do it.

“Every time you spoke to him there was a story about something that had happened at work. Or something that he had to get off his chest.

“Over the last two weeks of his life he was going in a 7am and finishing at 9pm. He said he had asked for more help, but he was given bank nurses and they weren’t up to his standards.’’

Mandy added: “We used to ask him why are you working long hours and told him to go off sick, as did his GP. But he wouldn’t because he said there was no one to do his job.

“He wasn’t supported and the resources weren’t there. We were told he was offered counselling, but he said he needed more than that - he needed help with his workload.

“He kept reporting the problems to his line manager.”

Stuart’s other sister Andrea Stringer, 46, a teaching assistant, said: “He was a happy go-lucky person and would help anybody. He had a lot of friends through work. Hundreds came to his funeral and we raised £1,170 for the Samaritans.

“He was well liked and respected. One colleague said if they had closed the hospital for the day, 3,000 people would have turned up for his funeral.

“Stuart did so much in the community around here. Since his death we have been contacted by so many people grateful for his treatment, even someone from Australia got in touch. He treated patients really well, put them at ease.”

(Image: BPM MEDIA)

The family also urged the public to show more patience with stressed nursing staff over the busy winter months.

Mandy added: “Patients and their relatives need to realise the reality of hospitals. They are shouting at nurses, they are in the firing line. But they are doing as much as they can.

“It isn’t the nurses. This is a problem that comes from the Government. We want them to sit and listen and try and stop what happened to Stuart from happening to anyone else.”

Bosses at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said they were saddened by Stuart's death and had offered him support.

Kathryn Halford, director of nursing, said “We were deeply saddened about the death of Stuart Beddows who was Lead Nurse for Endoscopy and had worked for the Trust for 15 years.

"Stuart was a conscientious, well-liked and valued member of our team. Once again we would like to offer our condolences to Stuart’s family, colleagues and friends.”

Richard Kirby, chief executive at the Trust, added “The outcome of the inquest in November reflected our own internal review that Stuart was experiencing a high level of stress in the workplace.

"His line manager and colleagues were aware of this and had responded by offering a number of supportive solutions.

"We are very sorry that we were not able to help Stuart further to prevent this tragedy.

“We already had a number of support mechanisms in place such as an Emotional Health and Wellbeing service and Occupational Health service which are both easily accessible to our staff.

"We have strengthened these services recently with staff being actively encouraged to raise concerns about their colleagues through various open channels if they feel that someone needs support.”

*If you need to talk to someone, you can call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit samaritans.org.