A PSYCHIATRIST has told an inquest how she could not foresee that one of her patients would jump to her death from a Hampshire motorway bridge.

The inquest into the death of Marion Munns, a retired nurse, who plunged from a bridge on to the M27 motorway, heard how a psychiatrist from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust believed that the 74-year-old would not take her own life.

As reported Mrs Munns had previously been admitted to the Western Community Hospital in Southampton, Hampshire, for three months in 2014 for depression and had returned home after showing improvement - but her condition deteriorated again the following year.

Winchester Coroner's Court heard evidence from psychiatrist Dr Vicky Osmond-Hicks who took over the care for Mrs Munns in February 2015.

She said saw her that month Mrs Munns was "doing well" and had no "significant mental disorder" or with any signs of depression.

In August Dr Osmond-Hicks was alerted to the mental decline of Mrs Munns, following concerns by her family who spoke to Mrs Munns GP Dr Louisa Egbe.

Dr Osmond-Hicks had a telephone conversation with Mrs Munns and said she showed no signs of depression and was "bright and cheerful" and told her she felt she did not need to be seen.

However her concerns grew after she spoke to the daughter of Mrs Munns Angela Mote, and then she then saw her face-to-face four days later, where Mrs Munns once again denied any symptoms of depression.

In September Mrs Munns daughter Angela Mote got in touch and emailed concerns about her mother, Dr Osmond-Hicks then tried to contact Mrs Munns who was not at home.

When she finally spoke to Mrs Munns she negotiated an increase in anti-psychotic drug risperidone and explained home visits would be twice a week.

However the inquest also heard Dr-Osmond-Hicks did not put anything on the risk register when the family of Mrs Munns spoke of their concerns.

A further appointment with Mrs Munns was made on September 11, where she denied her symptoms once more.

The inquest heard that there was a fax containing important information about resperidone dosage, but it was not received by Dr Egbe despite Dr Osmond-Hicks claiming she sent it.

Osmond-Hicks admitted that she should have seen her face-to-face immediately following the concerns raised by family, and this is something she has changed in her practice, she also admitted she should have updated a risk assessment.

Dr Osmond-Hicks said: "This came as a massive shock even with hindsight the biggest predictor of self harm we use is previous self harm so we always ask about previous self harm but this is not something I was concerned about.

"Also she was not 100 per cent well but at no point when I saw her was she deemed high risk or extremely unwell, her presentation was not right but it was not indicative of a very concerning situation."

The hearing is expected to end on Thursday.