'Assertive outreach' needed to prevent another Calocane, says former NHS mental health boss

‘NOT EVERYBODY WILL WALK INTO A CENTRE AND ASK FOR HELP’

- BY STORM NEWTON, PA

A FORMER mental health boss has called for “assertive outreach” to treat seriously ill mental health patients after a catalogue of failures in NHS services were unveiled in the case of killer Valdo Calocane.

Claire Murdoch, who was NHS England’s national director for mental health until recently, also warned that the Covid-19 pandemic “hit our young in ways that ought to trouble us all”.

Ms Murdoch was speaking in front of delegates at NHS Providers’ annual conference in Manchester, two months after resigning from her national role amid claims of political pressure for change.

She said she would “have liked more time” in her post, adding: “Because the next five years, I think, can bring a real tipping point.

“Obviously, Covid was hugely disruptive to society. It’s particularly hit our young in ways that ought to trouble us all.”

On serious mental illness, Ms Murdoch said early results from a pilot scheme of six 24/7 neighbourhood centres for patients have been “amazing”.