AWP criticised over patient homicides

In March of 2007 Michael Harris, a 24-year-old schizophrenic, killed his friend Carl James. In July Timothy Crook, a 47-year-old who had been diagnosed with delusional disorder, killed his parents.

Both patients had been known to the mental health trust for a number of years.

Separate independent investigations commissioned by NHS South West concluded the deaths could have been avoided.

The investigation into the care received by Mr Crook found a series of failings by both AWP and Lincolnshire Partnership Trust, where he was first diagnosed, had a “snowball effect” and allowed his condition to deteriorate.

The investigation found “persistent failure” by both trusts. Lincolnshire discharged Mr Crook despite knowing he was not receiving services in Swindon where he was now living while AWP failed to identify the risk posed by Mr Crook despite being passed notes from Lincolnshire police detailing his violent history.

The report into care received by Michael Harris found staff were carrying caseloads “substantially” in excess of Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines. It acknowledged chief executive Laura McMurtrie faced a “challenging” agenda when she took up the post in 2006 but criticised the “disjunction” between the board and the frontline due to the change programme she embarked upon.

In a statement Ms McMurtrie said the trust accepted the criticisms and had made significant improvements to services over the past five years.