Newcastle City Health Trust is undertaking a comprehensive
review of mental health procedures following an inquiry into a
string of suicides and homicides involving people with mental
health problems.
There have been about ten suicides and homicides involving
clients of the trust in a six-month period, some of whom were also
social services users.
Such incidents automatically trigger an inquiry by the service
provider, but on this occasion the purchaser, Newcastle & North
Tyneside Health Authority, has commissioned an external
inquiry.
Gill Remnant, head of corporate affairs at the trust, said the
review of services was part of a general re-examination, following
mergers of health trusts. She added: 'In the Newcastle & North
Tyneside area there appears to be a downward trend in unexpected
deaths if you use the rolling three year averages.'