Philip Ellison: Lancashire appoints expert to head up review

An independent expert has been appointed to chair the formal investigation into the fatal stabbing of Lancashire community support worker Philip Ellison.

Father-of-three Ellison, 47, was stabbed to death while working in a mental health supported living scheme run by Lancashire county council on 7 April. Service user Robert Searle, 51, has been charged with his murder.

Dr Margaret Flynn, a principal research fellow at the centre for health and social care research at Sheffield Hallam University, will head up the three-month review into the incident.

An expert panel including senior health and social care professionals, has already begun scrutinising records.

The review will include examining how Searle became a tenant of the supported living service, which helps people with low-risk mental health problems back into the community.

Dr Flynn said: “The primary purpose of our work is to learn the lessons. While we cannot change what happened to Philip Ellison, I very much hope that our work will change the future. Philip, his wife and sons deserve no less.”

A summary of the findings of the review panel will be published in a report with key recommendations.

Following Philip’s death, the Lancashire care foundation trust and Lancashire county council agreed to undertake the investigation under the Government’s Serious Untoward Incident (SUI) procedure.

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