Failures in Nottinghamshire Mental Health Services Exposed by CQC Report
- Nottingham Hospital was warned about 'systemic failings' years prior to patient's stabbing spree.
- Failures at the hospital enabled a killer to carry out random attacks.
- Systemic issues at Nottingham Hospital played a key role in allowing the killer to strike.
An investigation by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has revealed significant failures within the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, particularly concerning the care of Valdo Calocane, a convicted knife killer. The report highlights a troubling increase in patient deaths, which more than doubled from 1,694 in 2014-15 to 4,149 in 2021-22. The CQC criticized the trust's mental health unit for downplaying the risks posed by Calocane, who was discharged despite clear evidence of his potential danger to others. The CQC findings coincide with an exclusive investigation by The Doctor, which uncovered that the trust had received numerous warnings from coroners since 2014-15 regarding its inadequate patient care. Local experts have expressed concern that the trust has failed to learn from these repeated warnings, leading to a culture of negligence. Families of deceased patients, such as Sally Baylis, have reported defensive attitudes from staff when seeking answers about their loved ones' care, indicating systemic issues within the trust. Coroner Elizabeth Didcock issued a prevention of future deaths report following the inquest into Ken Baylis's death, highlighting ongoing concerns about the trust's communication with families and the accuracy of its internal investigations. In response to the findings, Dr. Susan Elcock, the trust's executive medical director, acknowledged the need for substantial changes in care quality and organizational culture, emphasizing a commitment to learning and improvement.