Supermarket stabbing - Health authorities vow they've learned lessons from case

An independent review panel has considered the care which Reid-Wentworth received from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for his mental health problems.

At the time he stabbed Lucy Yates, Reid-Wentworth was living in supported housing in Bognor Regis.

Trust chief executive Lisa Rodrigues admitted mistakes had been made in his treatment.

"Samuel Reid-Wentworth was a manipulative user of our services and, thankfully, cases like this are rare.

"But it is right and proper when they happen that we learn everything we can from them to minimise the chances of similar incidents happening in the future. There are always lessons to be learned both for the trust concerned and more widely.

"I readily acknowledge that the independent review we commissioned after this case offers some clear pointers for care and service improvements in the future.

"We have learned lessons from this case and we will share them with other trusts around the country."

The panel stated that:

* the assumptions made by members of Reid-Wentworth's care team about his illness and the level of risk he presented should have been challenged more widely;

* the trust should continually seek to involve carers, because of the information they have, even if someone like Reid-Wentworth is reluctant to involve them; and

* service delivery would be improved if clinical staff writing patient notes signed each entry.

Following the review, the trust developed an action plan to guard against a repeat of Reid-Wentworth's actions. The panel also noted examples of good practice in his care.