- Samantha Noble & PA Media
- BBC News
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
Valdo Calocane suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, his trial was told
A special review has been ordered into the NHS trust where a man was treated for mental illness before he fatally stabbed three people in Nottingham.
Valdo Calocane was given a hospital order for killing Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, as well as Ian Coates, 65, last June.
His care at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust will be reviewed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The CQC said the rapid review will be completed before the end of March.
Calocane, 32, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, and three counts of attempted murder.
His trial heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and the families of the victims have questioned the care he received before the killings.
Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar died at the scene of the attacks
Announcing the CQC review, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “It is crucial that our mental health services ensure both the care of patients and the safety of the public.
“I hope the review provides the families and public with some much-needed answers, and that it helps the trust to improve the standard of mental health care in Nottinghamshire.”
And NHS England has said it is planning to order a separate Independent Mental Health Homicide Review into Calocane’s contact with mental health services, which is expected to take many months to complete.
Chris Dzikiti, director of mental health at the CQC, said: “We will conduct a rapid review into mental health services in Nottingham to understand whether there are any practical actions which can be taken to improve the quality of services and ensure people receive safe and effective care.
“We will begin this work immediately, aiming to report to the secretary of state before the end of March.”
Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust has been contacted for comment.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
