Coroner John Pollard urged the NHS to consider the impact of reforms on staff as he recorded a suicide verdict.

He said: “I find it extremely sad that a young woman with such a lot going for her has been reduced to this state of despair. When people introduce these rules and systems, perhaps a bit more thought as to what effect they will have on people would be helpful.”

The inquest heard that Miss Wilson, who lived alone in Sale, Greater Manchester, found her position at work was made increasingly difficult by the Agenda for Change review, which was aimed at making NHS jobs and salaries fairer.

Her own job was reclassified two grades higher. But dieticians at Wythenshawe Hospital did not receive any improvement in their pay scale, although their colleagues at other hospitals in the area were promoted and received higher salaries.

Miss Wilson lobbied hospital chiefs on behalf of her staff but was told there was no money to improve their pay.

She was also upset because a failing student alleged that she had suffered discrimination at the hospital.

Neil Wilson, Morag’s father, visited her in December last year to hear her sing in a hospital choir in Manchester.

He said she felt unable to enjoy a tea break with her staff because they would stop talking as soon as she walked into the room.

Mr Wilson said: “They made her feel as if possibly she was to blame for them not being upgraded, they made her feel so bad she took her tea into her office.”

Mr Wilson, who lives with his wife Betty in Aberdeenshire, described how he found his daughter being sick because she was so worried about a meeting with the failing student and other work issues.

After the meeting she told her father that the student had been aggressive.

Mr Wilson heard his daughter moving about the house at 5am the next morning but went back to sleep.

He was woken again at 5.30am by a phone call but no one replied when he answered. Mr Wilson now believes it was his daughter calling before she committed suicide.

Minutes later, police found Miss Wilson’s car on the hard shoulder on the section of the M60 that crosses the Manchester Ship Canal near the Trafford Centre shopping complex.

Police found her handbag with a kitchen knife inside. Officers arrived at her home just as her father was filing a missing persons report.

Divers found her body in the canal four hours later. After finding stab wounds on her chest, detectives launched an investigation to find out if anyone else was involved in her death.

Two days later a pathologist confirmed that Miss Wilson had died from drowning.

Her family received more than 350 cards and letters after her death, many from her colleagues at the hospital.

It is understood that the complaint by the student has since been resolved.

A spokesman for Wythenshawe Hospital said: “Morag faced the challenges of any head of department, but had not raised any concerns about the demands.

“We cannot speculate on the motivation for Morag’s tragic actions but strongly believe she was appropriately supported by the trust. We would like to reiterate our sincere condolences and sympathy to Morag’s family.”

From:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/28/nsuicide128.xml

Health Direct would like to reiterate our sincere condolences and sympathy to Morag’s family, friends and colleagues.

Health Direct would also like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Dr David Kelly who also apparently committed suicide after also tangling with labour’s policies.