NHS England is responsible for commissioning independent investigations into the care and treatment of NHS mental health service users. This could be where there has been a homicide committed by the patient or where the patient died.

The purpose of an independent investigation is to review thoroughly the care and treatment received by the patient so that the NHS can:

  • Be clear about what – if anything – went wrong with their care 

  • Minimise the possibility of a reoccurrence of similar events

  • Make recommendations for the delivery of health services in the future

An independent investigation is carried out separately from any police, legal and coroner’s proceedings. It is done by an independent, expert organisation, which is given access to all the information and reports about the individual’s care and treatment (within the usual patient confidentiality rules).In the interest of openness and transparency, we publish the details of any independent investigations relating to service users of our Trust which were published by NHS England within the last four years. You can view these below.

Independent external quality assurance review following an internal investigation into the care and treatment of service user A - published 19 May 2021

NHS England / Improvement commissioned an independent quality assurance review following an internal investigation into the care and treatment of service user A who was involved in a serious incident in July 2017. At the time and prior to the incident, service user A had been under the care of mental health services provided by our Trust. 

The independent report and Trust assurance statement which outlines the actions we have taken in response to the recommendations can be accessed below: 

Investigation into the care and treatment of David – published 15 June 2020

NHS England commissioned an independent investigation into the care and treatment of David, who died in October 2016.At this time and prior to the incident, David had been under the care of mental health services provided by our Trust.We have produced an action plan in response to the recommendations made within the report.

Investigation into the care and treatment of patient P – published 10 June 2016

NHS England commissioned an independent investigation into the care and treatment of patient P, who murdered a family member in December 2014. 

At this time and prior to the incident, patient P had been under the care of mental health services provided by North West Boroughs Healthcare and Mesey Care.

We have produced an action plan in response to the recommendations made within the report.