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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Double killing trust criticised | Double killing trust criticised |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A mental health trust has been criticised after two of its patients killed people over the same weekend. | A mental health trust has been criticised after two of its patients killed people over the same weekend. |
| Thomas Wright, 56, stabbed his wife 77 times at their home in Tooting, south London, on February 17, 2006. | Thomas Wright, 56, stabbed his wife 77 times at their home in Tooting, south London, on February 17, 2006. |
| The next day, paranoid schizophrenic Sean Perry, 32, killed Matthew Carter, 22, in a random attack. | |
| Separate inquiries into the killings criticised failings in the care given to the two men by South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust. | Separate inquiries into the killings criticised failings in the care given to the two men by South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust. |
| These terrible events are always an opportunity to learn about how we improve our services and must try to stop these kind of events happening in the future Trust Chief Executive, Peter Houghton | These terrible events are always an opportunity to learn about how we improve our services and must try to stop these kind of events happening in the future Trust Chief Executive, Peter Houghton |
| Perry was a patient at Springfield Hospital, Tooting, south London, and discharged in June 2005. | Perry was a patient at Springfield Hospital, Tooting, south London, and discharged in June 2005. |
| His family wanted him readmitted after he refused his anti-psychotic drugs. | His family wanted him readmitted after he refused his anti-psychotic drugs. |
| However, in February 2006 he killed fitness instructor Mr Carter, 22, Mitcham, south-west London, as he walked home a from a friend's house. | |
| The inquiry by NHS London found Perry was "known to be capable of great violence" and to present a "significant risk" to others when acutely psychotic. | The inquiry by NHS London found Perry was "known to be capable of great violence" and to present a "significant risk" to others when acutely psychotic. |
| But he was not referred for a forensic assessment because the community care staff believed this would have been of limited value, something the authors described as a "lost opportunity". | But he was not referred for a forensic assessment because the community care staff believed this would have been of limited value, something the authors described as a "lost opportunity". |
| There was also an "over-reliance" on Perry's mother by health workers to monitor his progress despite her being "not adequately equipped" for this role. | There was also an "over-reliance" on Perry's mother by health workers to monitor his progress despite her being "not adequately equipped" for this role. |
| Professional misjudgement | Professional misjudgement |
| The report criticised Neil Hickman, Perry's care co-ordinator in the "early intervention service" community health team, although it noted he was praised as a manager and had a heavy workload. | The report criticised Neil Hickman, Perry's care co-ordinator in the "early intervention service" community health team, although it noted he was praised as a manager and had a heavy workload. |
| "[But] Neil Hickman was unduly focused on the wishes and desires of Sean Perry and his family rather than on the risks he posed when unwell," the report said. | "[But] Neil Hickman was unduly focused on the wishes and desires of Sean Perry and his family rather than on the risks he posed when unwell," the report said. |
| It also said Mr Hickman's failure to ensure a face-to-face mental health assessment of Perry was carried out in February 2006 was a "professional misjudgement". | It also said Mr Hickman's failure to ensure a face-to-face mental health assessment of Perry was carried out in February 2006 was a "professional misjudgement". |
| The report into Mr Wright's case found there were long-standing operational problems with the community health team (CMHT) which exacerbated issues after he was referred to them by his GP a fortnight earlier, but was not seen. | The report into Mr Wright's case found there were long-standing operational problems with the community health team (CMHT) which exacerbated issues after he was referred to them by his GP a fortnight earlier, but was not seen. |
| It said the CMHT was "frozen by indecision" and "intervention at this point could have changed the course of events that led to the death" of his wife Leslie. | |
| More training | More training |
| Wight appeared at the Old Bailey in February 2006. He was deemed unfit to plead and was detained indefinitely under he mental heath act. | Wight appeared at the Old Bailey in February 2006. He was deemed unfit to plead and was detained indefinitely under he mental heath act. |
| The trust's Chief Executive, Peter Houghton, said since the killings the trust's mental health early intervention service has trebled in size, risk assessment has improved and staff have been given more training. | The trust's Chief Executive, Peter Houghton, said since the killings the trust's mental health early intervention service has trebled in size, risk assessment has improved and staff have been given more training. |
| "These terrible events are always an opportunity to learn about how we improve our services and how we must try to stop these kind of events happening in the future," he said. | "These terrible events are always an opportunity to learn about how we improve our services and how we must try to stop these kind of events happening in the future," he said. |
| The two reports have made a total of 38 recommendations for the trust, the local council and the community mental health team that looked after Perry and Wright. | The two reports have made a total of 38 recommendations for the trust, the local council and the community mental health team that looked after Perry and Wright. |