Mental Health Failures in Nottingham Stabbings

New reports have surfaced revealing that Valdo Calocane‘s mental health issues were significantly more serious than previously understood. A doctor had warned three years before his tragic attacks that Calocane might kill someone, according to his newly released medical records.

Calocane’s family shared these details after he was sentenced to indefinite detention in a high-security hospital for the murders of three individuals in Nottingham in June 2023. Among the victims were two college students, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, along with a school caretaker named Ian Coates.

In the wake of these horrific events, Calocane’s family expressed frustration about the mental health system and called for changes. They believe that the healthcare system failed Calocane and also the victims, pointing to missed chances for proper intervention.

Calocane had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 but struggled with his mental state, being sectioned multiple times in just two years. Medical notes show alarming comments from a psychiatrist who noted his lack of insight and remorse, raising concerns that he could potentially kill.

Speaking to the media, Calocane’s brother and mother stated that they believe the mental health care system is broken and that tragic outcomes could have been prevented. They called for a public inquiry and an overhaul of mental health services.

The situation has sparked outrage among victims’ families as they learned of the doctor’s warnings, which they feel were ignored. James Coates, son of victim Ian Coates, expressed deep anger, noting that this was yet another example of how the system failed.

The BBC‘s upcoming documentary on the stabbings has also drawn criticism from the victims’ families for its handling and lack of prior consultation. Many feel that these events have re-traumatized them and that the media hasn’t shown enough sensitivity towards their suffering.

As discussions continue about mental health support and public safety, it’s evident that more needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from happening again. A report from the Care Quality Commission into Calocane’s care is due to be published soon, and many are watching closely for its findings.