Shocking NHS Failures Exposed in Nottingham Killer Case, Health Secretary Calls for Nationwide Reforms

Wes Streeting has described the NHS's mishandling of Nottingham murderer Valdo Calocane's case as 'shocking'. An investigation by the healthcare regulator revealed that despite clear signs he might experience severe symptoms and possibly violent outbursts, Calocane was sent back to his general practitioner.

Political journalist @alixculbertson

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 13:

The Health Secretary has stated that there were numerous and significant shortcomings in the NHS's handling of the mental health care for Nottingham murderer Valdo Calocane.

Following the release of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report that indicated the NHS had understated the condition of Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, Wes Streeting described the report’s conclusions as "deeply distressing".

In June 2023, in Nottingham, Calocane lethally stabbed students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, along with caretaker Ian Coates.

He was confined to a maximum-security medical facility in January, where he is "very likely" to spend the remainder of his life, following the acceptance by prosecutors of his manslaughter plea due to diminished responsibility.

Mr. Streeting commented, "The most alarming aspect of the Care Quality Commission's report is the extensive and critical lapses in overseeing Valdo Calocane, managing his medication, and addressing the issues when he failed to take his medication."

"Surprisingly, he was dismissed for his absence, which, under normal circumstances, would have necessitated increased monitoring instead."

Mr. Streeting mentioned that the Nottinghamshire NHS Trust, accountable for Calocane's medical oversight, had been briefed on the conclusions of the report prior to its release and has already begun to adopt some of its recommendations.

He also mentioned that the NHS in England has been directed not to release mental health patients who fail to show up for their appointments.

"He indicated that more steps would be taken and that he would be requesting frequent updates," he mentioned.

"It's essential that lessons are applied, not only for the good of those in Nottinghamshire but nationwide."

The health secretary has announced that a judicial inquiry will be conducted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the NHS's handling of Calocane's treatment.

He mentioned that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is currently evaluating the most effective way to organize the inquiry to ensure it provides "both the accountability and the answers that the families are seeking."

Read further: Alert issued years prior to assault described as 'another blow'Families of victims remain 'driven by rage' after a yearCalocane's punishment deemed not excessively lenient

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Mr. Streeting expressed that he cannot fathom the immense sorrow the families must be enduring, particularly upon learning from the report that these incidents could have been avoided "if the NHS had acted as it was supposed to".

The report released by the CQC on Tuesday scrutinized the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's (NHFT) management of 32-year-old Calocane's care prior to the murders.

The report indicated that from May 2020 to September 2022, the trust's risk evaluations underestimated the severity of Calocane's refusal to take his medication and his continuous, severe psychotic symptoms.

The regulatory authority noted that although certain risks were emphasized, other evaluations either downplayed or left out crucial information.

The text indicates that in 2022, a choice was made to release the assailant to his general practitioner, even though there was indisputable proof suggesting that Calocane might revert to troubling symptoms and possibly violent actions.

The CQC report disclosed that before the incidents, Calocane had been hospitalized four times under mental health legislation.

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Dr. Sinead O'Malley and Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, the parents of Ms. O'Malley-Kumar, expressed to Sky News their profound devastation following the release of the report.

Dr. Kumar stated, "It was a straightforward case involving an individual at fault who failed to take his prescribed medication."

This content is profoundly disheartening to digest; it was incredibly straightforward.

"The mistakes made were elementary, not technical in nature. There were numerous opportunities to alter the trajectory of Calocane's treatment, yet none of these chances were seized by the medical professionals involved."

"The physician responsible for his release made a highly irresponsible decision, especially given that it was documented in his notes by another doctor that he could potentially be a threat to someone's life."

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Chris Dzikiti, the interim chief inspector of healthcare at the CQC, stated that although it cannot be definitively concluded that the incidents would have been avoided if Calocane had been given the necessary support, it is evident that "the risk he posed to the public was poorly managed and that chances to reduce that risk were overlooked."

"Mr. Dzikiti emphasized that the harm inflicted on the people concerned, as well as their families and friends, is irreversible."

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