A NURSE hanged himself following more than a year of stress at work.

Samuel Illingworth had been a nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital since June, 2016 and had 12 bouts of sickness leave between then and January this year.

The 25-year-old was found dead by his partner Aislinn Madden at their home in Gargrave Avenue, Johnson Fold on April 13.

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At the inquest into Mr Illingworth’s death, a statement by his mother Tracy Rodgers was read out by assistant coroner Susan Duncan.

It said: “He was placed on ward C3 at Royal Bolton Hospital. He wasn’t happy, he would complain about his work and line manager. I told him to keep his head down.”

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Vicky Welsby, assistant division nurse director at Royal Bolton told the inquest that after Mr Illingworth’s death she had met with Mrs Rodgers who was “concerned there were allegations of bullying by the ward manager”.

The inquest heard evidence from GP Dr Darmesh Mistry that Mr Illingworth had been on two kinds of anti-depressants, citalopram and for a longer period, sertraline.

Dr Mistry told the court he was put on citalopram on September 14, 2016, when he went to his doctor’s surgery and said he was depressed. Mr Illingworth had also being signed off work since January this year.

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Evidence was heard by Dr Martin Seed, the occupational health physician, who saw Mr Illingworth twice after a referral by his line manager.

Dr Seed told the inquest he saw Mr Illingworth on March 20, 2017 and a year later on February 28.

At his first meeting Dr Seed noted Mr Illingworth was finding his new job “stressful” and did not “feel supported”. Dr Seed said he was suffering moderate anxiety and depression. He told Mr Illingworth about a wellbeing drop in clinic he could attend and it was suggested he should attend a stress risk assessment with HR presence.

Dr Seed said he suggested the meeting with the presence of HR because the manager who had referred Mr Illingworth to Dr Seed was “an issue” and the presence of HR could have made Mr Illingworth more comfortable.

He had been scheduled to see occupational health for another meeting on March 28, 2018, but failed to attend.

DI Ian Partington from Greater Manchester Police told the court he had found seven “goodbye notes” at Mr Illingworth’s home. One said: “I tried, I failed, I’m sorry.”

After the inquest, his sister Zoe Illingworth, said he was a “popular” and “well-loved” man “who will be missed”.

Trish Armstrong-Child, director of nursing, said: “Staff here were very saddened by Sam’s death and we would like to once again offer our condolences to his family ­— our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”

Mrs Duncan recorded a verdict of suicide with a cause of death of hanging.