Emma Cadywould was a 32-year-old, highly-accomplished mother of a six-month-old baby. She lost her life in December 2011 after making her way to a railway track and being hit by a train. Emma had been experiencing severe perinatal (or ‘postnatal’) depression. She had been under the care of Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Trust, but the care she received was woefully inadequate. Tragically, with better care, Emma is likely to have survived her illness.
Since Emma’s death, her family have campaigned tirelessly for better perinatal mental health care. S. J. Edney Solicitors represented Emma’s husband and family at the Inquest of her death, and also in a subsequent clinical negligence claim.
Emma’s case has attracted a lot of local and national media coverage. To find out more about perinatal depression, and to access support, visit apni.org and pandasfoundation.org.uk.