An inquiry revealed that a triple killer was discharged from mental health services because healthcare workers could not locate him, raising serious concerns about public safety. Valdo Calocane stabbed to death three people in Nottingham on June 13, 2023. He had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Calocane was under the care of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for two years before his discharge. He was released to his GP months before the killings due to healthcare workers being unable to find him.
On July 16, 2022, Calocane’s last engagement with the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team occurred by phone. During this time, a consultant psychiatrist warned that Calocane would end up killing someone.
Emma Robinson, a team leader at the trust, stated that they could not find Calocane to work with him. She indicated that it felt safer to discharge someone back to their GP if they could not be engaged.
Robinson said, “Yes, because we couldn’t find him to treat him or engage him.” This raises questions about the effectiveness of current mental health services.
The inquiry has drawn attention to the need for better tracking and support for individuals with severe mental health issues. The tragic outcomes highlight gaps in public safety and mental health care systems.
The ages of the victims were 19 for Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65 for Ian Coates. Their families are now demanding accountability from the healthcare system.
As the investigation continues, officials have yet to confirm specific measures that will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future. The implications of this case may lead to significant changes within mental health service protocols.
