NHS Psychosis Services Fail to Meet Standards, Raising Concerns After Nottingham Killings

A recent report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has revealed that one third of NHS psychosis services, including those that treated Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane, are not meeting national standards. The report highlights significant failures by Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust in managing the risks posed by Calocane prior to his violent actions, which resulted in the deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates in June 2022. Health Minister Wes Streeting stated that the victims "might still be alive" if the NHS had acted appropriately. Streeting emphasized that the tragic deaths could have been prevented, calling for a judge-led inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the case. Families of the victims have expressed outrage, claiming the CQC report illustrates "gross, systematic failures" in the mental health services that cared for Calocane. They accused these services of having "blood on their hands," underscoring the devastating consequences of inadequate care. Reports indicate that Calocane was discharged from Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s early intervention in psychosis services in September 2022, despite being under their care. National data shows that only 63 percent of early intervention services in England met the highest standards set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) by the end of 2023-24, falling short of the 95 percent target. Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, stressed the importance of high-quality care in early intervention services, noting that timely treatment can be life-changing for individuals experiencing psychosis. He called for better resourcing of these services to ensure they meet demand and maintain high standards of care.