Valdo Calocane discharged from mental health services before Nottingham killings
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 5
Valdo Calocane discharged from mental health services before Nottingham killings
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 5
The Nottingham Inquiry heard Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust discharged him in September 2022 after missed appointments, unanswered calls and a false claim he was abroad.
Team leader Emma Robinson said staff had no powers to hold him and could not safely engage him, despite his paranoid schizophrenia, four previous detentions and warnings he could kill someone.
The inquiry also heard his GP received very little information and Nottinghamshire Police were not told before Calocane killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates on 13 June 2023.
When a high-risk patient vanishes, is discharging them still an option for the NHS?
Have new mental health laws truly closed the gap between patient rights and public safety?
Systemic Failures and Reform After the 2023 Nottingham Attacks: The Case of Valdo Calocane
Overview
In June 2023, Valdo Calocane carried out violent attacks in Nottingham after his mental health deteriorated without proper oversight following a flawed discharge from specialist care in September 2022. Despite clear risks, the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust discharged him to his GP without direct communication or informing the police, ending structured monitoring. Calocane’s history of medication non-compliance, symptom concealment, and refusal to engage complicated care, while missed opportunities like depot injections and Community Treatment Orders worsened the situation. Systemic failures in communication and accountability across agencies allowed these gaps. Following the tragedy, extensive reforms and a statutory inquiry were launched to address these critical failings and prevent future incidents.