NHS apologises over report into care of mentally ill patient

The NHS has issued an apology after a mentally ill man committed a murder following his discharge from a psychiatric unit.

Dale Pick, who was being treated for a psychotic illness, was allowed to leave the Beaumont Ward on Bradgate Unit at the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, despite the fact that he had a violent reputation.

Although he had never been convicted of a violent offence, Mr Pick, who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, was known to carry a knife and had made threats to kill a girlfriend. The report, conducted by the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Autority, found that Mr Pick's mental health records also contained multiple reports of "threatening and abusive" behaviour towards staff, including one incident, where Pick threatened a male nurse with a broken cup.

The report revealed that the decision to release Mr Pick was based on a number of factors, including his improved behaviour and his willingness to comply with treatment (although he had a previous history of non-compliance), as well as the findings of a forensic psychiatry assessment.

The report also revealed that the Beaumont Ward was operating under "considerable clinical pressure", due to high bed occupancy and overcrowding on the wards.

However, the community psychiatric nurse, who was Dale's primary care worker in the community had reservations about his release, saying "there appeared to be little change in Dale's mental state from previous meetings and there was still some concern that Dale was taking illegal drugs".

Dale Pick was released from the Beaumont Ward on September 17, 2002. On September 25, he stabbed Michael Doherty to death in Leicester. He was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and sentenced to be detained under a hospital order.

Commenting on the report, Sir Richard Tilt, Chairman of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority, issued an apology to the families of Mr Doherty ad Mr Pick. He said: "This is a tragic case and one which we must learn from. It is clear that some aspects of the care provided to Mr Pick by the mental health services could and should have been better – for this I offer a full apology."

(KMcA/SP)