SOUTHERN Health has confirmed another patient has died at one of its care centres this week.

The troubled trust said the death was not in Oxfordshire but would not provide any other details.

Interim chief executive Julie Dawes, who is standing in after the resignation of Katrina Percy last year, said: "I confirm with sadness that a patient has died this week whilst under the care of our mental health services.

"We are offering support to the patient’s family and our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.

"We have started an immediate investigation and a coroner’s inquest must take place before the facts can be fully established.

"Due to this ongoing investigation and our duty of confidentiality, we cannot comment further until the inquest has concluded."

The death comes after an official inspection last year concluded that 722 people being cared for by Southern Health had died unexpectedly over a four year period.

That inspection was prompted by the death of Oxford teenager Connor Sparrowhawk, who drowned in a bath at Slade House inpatient unit in Headington in July 2013.

The trust has since admitted responsiblity for his death and closed the unit, but Connor's mother Sara Ryan has continued to campaign for improvements at the trust.