Councillors have vowed to investigate whether bed closures at a mental health trust may have contributed to a number of serious incidents over the past few years.
Cllr Pat Callaghan, cabinet member for adult social care and health, said she would be looking closely at the loss of 19 per cent of beds at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C&I) since 2011.
A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into the trust noted across the same period, two clusters of patient deaths had taken place. In May of last year, questions were also raised after a Kentish Town mother was stabbed to death by her paranoid schizophrenic son days after the pair had begged the trust for a bed.
Cllr Callaghan said on Monday: “There have been a number of serious incidents in the past two years. We will look to see if any relationship exists [with] the planned bed closure programme.”
In a deputation, carer Nik Masters told councillors: “Carers need the council’s help. People are dying and this is unacceptable.”
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