A South Essex woman has criticised a hospital for not keeping a closer watch on her unstable son, who committed suicide.

Raphael Moore, 39, killed himself on June 2 while in the care of Runwell Hospital, Wickford. He had been admitted after a suicide attempt. His mother, Joan, of Carolines Close, Southend, said she felt staff could have done more to prevent his eventual death and has filed an official complaint with the hospital.

South Essex Partnership NHS Trust, which is responsible for the hospital, said it would launch a full investigation. Mrs Moore claimed: "His reason for admission to hospital in the first place was because he had already attempted suicide at my home on May 21.

"What is immediately apparent is that hospital staff were aware of his suicidal state and failed to keep proper watch over him.

"Surely a psychiatric hospital is precisely the place to deal with and protect suicidal cases. For anybody to actually manage to commit suicide while under psychiatric care is a clear case of negligence."

She also said on the night she was told of her son's death, there was no counselling or other support available to her. Mrs Moore added she only found out the exact cause of Raphael's death a week later through the coroner's office.

She said: "I know this complaint is not going to bring my son back, but I feel it is my duty to bring this matter to public attention so that similar circumstances never happen again."

A spokesman for the NHS Trust said: "Our deepest sympathy goes to the family at this very sad time. The trust has commissioned a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Moore's death."