Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Noted (AI summary) NHS England acknowledges the coroner's concerns regarding connectivity between mental health services abroad and in the UK, but notes that information sharing cannot be mandated for overseas healthcare providers. They highlight the work of the Regulation 28 Working Group in sharing learnings from PFD reports. The Home Office outlines the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) approach, which GMP is rolling out, to ensure the right agencies respond to people in need of support, but defers to the College of Policing and GMP for specific issues. NWAS has provided feedback and reflection to the Mental Health Practitioner involved in the incident. They continue to deploy mental health Trust practitioners in NWAS control rooms and directly employ mental health practitioners for triaging calls. The DHSC acknowledges concerns about training for police officers, notification of carers for Mental Health Act admissions, connectivity between international and UK mental health services, GP practice list removals, and communication between mental health agencies, deferring to other bodies on some points and explaining existing policy on others. GMMH has emphasized the notification of carers following admission under the Mental Health Act through daily staff huddles and implemented a process to ensure written information is provided to carers within 72 hours of admission. GMMH will also carry out an audit to ensure staff are following guidance on safe transfers between teams by the end of March 2025. The College of Policing highlights the national 'Right Care Right Person' (RCRP) framework, supported by Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and a toolkit, along with a bespoke e-learning training package. They are in contact with Greater Manchester Police, who are implementing RCRP. The CQC acknowledges the concerns but states that they fall outside of its regulatory remit, particularly regarding GP practices and information sharing between agencies. It outlines its inspection methodology but takes no direct action. Trafford Council has reinforced expectations within Adult Social Care that staff must verify if the Police are responding to a call, reviewed and strengthened safeguarding processes, and invested in mental health management and practitioner capacity. Single agency recommendations from the Safeguarding Adults Review have been actioned. Response contains only blank pages.

Noted (AI summary) Humankinds, the incoming provider of Addictions Services within Cumbria, describes actions already taken since taking over the service, including weekly provider meetings, clinical handover for high-risk cases, data transfer of all active service user’s relevant information, and review of all service users at a face-to-face appointment. Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) acknowledges the concerns and apologizes, highlighting that the death occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and refers to a meeting with the new service provider, Humankind, regarding the transfer process. GMMH offers to meet with the coroner to discuss the transfer of services.

Noted (AI summary) An Electronic Patient Record (EPR) has been introduced. Mental Capacity Act (MCA) training is being provided and MCA forms are available on the EPR. A competency framework has been developed for the Home First team, and transfers will be reviewed daily; wards have been advised that the decision to reduce the level of enhanced care should not be undertaken by ward staff without a full multi-disciplinary meeting. Learning from the inquest was shared with senior management and leadership teams, with an action plan to ensure staff are up to date with Best Interest & Capacity Training and CPA training. Staff have been informed of care coordinator expectations when patients are in alternative care settings. Bolton Council and BNFT have advised all wards that the decision to reduce enhanced care levels should not be undertaken by ward staff without a full multi-disciplinary meeting, instructed Ward Managers that any patient with complex needs should be escalated to the integrated discharge team, and are developing a skills and competency framework. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledges the concerns and points to existing guidance and rights regarding mental capacity assessments and care planning.