The recent inquiry into the discharge of a discharged killer has raised serious concerns regarding NHS staff protocols and decision-making processes. Key witness Helen Robinson, involved with the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team, presented her perspective during questioning.
NHS Staff Fail to Locate Discharged Killer
In her statement, Robinson addressed the challenge of managing caseloads involving patients they could not engage with. She reflected on past considerations of whether it was preferable to discharge patients rather than keep them on record without interaction for extended periods.
Concerns Over Discharging Patients
- Robinson expressed fear that having patients on their books without engagement could lead to negative consequences.
- She noted, “What does it look like if something happens and we’ve got this person open to us and we haven’t seen him for months?”
- The implication was that sometimes it might be safer to discharge patients back to their General Practitioner (GP).
Counsel Craig Carr highlighted that Robinson’s statements could be interpreted as suggesting it was better to remove uncontactable patients from the system entirely. Robinson supported this by stating, “It feels safer to have somebody discharged back to the queue of the GP.”
Lack of Training on Disengaged Patients
During the inquiry, Carr also inquired about mandatory training for the EIP team employees. Robinson responded that all staff received training encompassing basic life support, risk management, and record keeping. However, she acknowledged there was no targeted training on early intervention or managing disengaged patients.
- Training offered included topics of infection control and the Mental Health Act.
- Robinson clarified that while certain training specific to mental health existed, there was a gap in training focused on patient engagement and discharge protocols.
This inquiry highlights significant issues within the NHS that need addressing, especially regarding the management of vulnerable patients post-discharge. The failure to maintain contact with discharged individuals raises questions about safety and the effectiveness of current practices in psychiatric care.
