§ Lord Harris of Greenwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What form of investigation they propose to institute following the case of Regina v. Buchanan at the Central Criminal Court at which the defendant received four life sentences for offences committed after his release from a mental hospital into care in the community.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)We expect an investigation to be held as a matter of routine in cases of homicide or suicide involving a patient recently discharged from hospital. I understand that there has already been a full review of the circumstances of Mr. Buchanan's discharge by the board of North West London Mental Health Trust. It found no evidence, at this stage, to suggest that the decision to discharge Mr. Buchanan was incorrect in the light of what was known about his condition at the time.
In addition, the trust, with the endorsement of the district health authority, is setting up an independent panel of inquiry to look into Mr. Buchanan's discharge and follow-up care. This will be chaired by the chief executive of a neighbouring mental health trust, and will include an external consultant psychiatrist, a senior nurse, and a non-executive board member from Brent and Harrow Health Authority. The report of this panel will be made public.