Independent investigations into the care and treatment of two mental health patients who went on to kill have highlighted a lack of support for mental health team managers.

Separate reports published by NHS London last week both raised concerns about the workload of team managers at South West London and St George's Mental Health trust.

The reports cover incidents that happened over one weekend in 2006. Thomas Wright, who stabbed his wife to death on 17 February, had been referred by his GP to the trust's community mental health team but was not seen. The probe found "long-standing operational difficulties" in the team including a lack of administrative support, which meant the manager had taken on too much work. Professional supervision of the team manager was "sporadic".

In the second case, Sean Perry killed a stranger while in the care of the trust's early intervention service.

There was no face-to-face assessment in the 10 weeks before the killing and he was not referred for a forensic assessment despite being "known to be capable of great violence", the report said. It also noted the "heavy workload" of the team manager.

Trust chief executive Peter Houghton highlighted changes made since the incidents: a new development centre to improve support and training for ward, team and middle managers and a managers' forum to aid communication.

The trust had also trebled the size of the early intervention service, improved clinical risk assessment, reorganised community teams and improved information sharing.

HSJ's Mental Health Forum is on 10-11 September

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