Dunedin poet Ian Loughran died after clinicians failed to provide follow-up care, coroner finds (opens original article in a new tab)

A coroner found that clinicians failed to provide follow-up care and medication for Dunedin poet Ian Loughran, contributing to his suicide in 2021. The coroner made recommendations for improvements in mental health care processes.

• Coroner found clinicians failed to provide follow-up care and medication for Ian Loughran after he left a mental health ward
• Loughran, who had bipolar disorder, died by suicide in July 2021 after two hospital admissions earlier that year
• Coroner recommended improvements to discharge summaries, medication clinics, and communication between clinicians