IT is deeply shocking to hear about a patient being found hanged in the A&E department at one of our hospitals.

Our thoughts, primarily, must be with the woman’s family and friends as they somehow deal with their sudden loss.

Looking at the wider issue, are there any lessons to be learned?

Emergency departments are notoriously busy places where people have, in recent weeks, complained of major delays.

So the death immediately sparks questions about how this could have happened.

As the Royal College of Psychiatrists expert explains, emergency departments have procedures in place to prevent self-harm and suicide where patients arrive expressing those intentions.

Where it becomes difficult to monitor is with a patient who gives no clues as to their state of mind.

So far, the hospital trust has declined to comment any further than to say the police are investigating.

The full details of the circumstances leading up to the woman’s death will be detailed during an inquest several weeks or months from now.

Naturally, there are questions about supervision and those must be answered sooner rather than later for the peace of mind of others.