A public inquiry is currently investigating the systemic failures in mental health care that preceded the tragic 2023 Nottingham attacks, where Valdo Calocane killed three people. Calocane, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, is now detained under an indefinite hospital order. The inquiry aims to uncover the shortcomings in his treatment and care.
Family Calls for Action on Mental Health Funding
Calocane's mother and brother have urged politicians to address the “decimation” of funding for mental health services. They argue that the neglect of mental health care is “destroying lives” and that the tragedy could have been prevented with proper support. Two independent reports have already found that Calocane's care by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was “not always sufficient.” Health officials have acknowledged that “the system got it wrong.”
Repeated Admissions and Discharges
Between 2020 and 2022, Calocane was repeatedly admitted to and discharged from mental health hospitals. Despite concerns about his violent behaviour, he was eventually discharged to his GP without a risk assessment. This pattern of care has been heavily criticised by both his family and independent reviewers.
Diverging Views on Responsibility
While Calocane's family attributes the tragedy to systemic failures and chronic underfunding, some victims' families hold individual psychiatrists accountable. For instance, Grace O'Malley-Kumar's father believes that specific doctors failed in their duties, rather than the system alone being at fault. The inquiry will consider these differing perspectives as it seeks to prevent future incidents.
The full article, titled "Mother of Nottingham triple killer: ‘We tried to get help for my son. Then he killed three people’," provides further details on the family's struggle and the inquiry's findings.
