Costessey deaths prompt council call for public inquiry

Councillors say the killings should be the focus of a wide-ranging investigation into the state of mental health care in Norfolk.

Bartlomiej Kuczynski, was found dead alongside the bodies of his daughters – Jasmin, 12, and Natasha, eight – and sister-in-law Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, at his Queen’s Hill home on January 19. 

Bartlomiej Kuczynski with his daughters Jasmin and Natasha (Image: Facebook)

Police believe Kuczynski murdered the girls and their aunt before killing himself. He had struggled with mental ill health for about a year and had been a patient of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).

The deaths have cast a spotlight on how mental health care in the county is provided and whether attempts to avoid the tragedy were missed.

The mental health trust, Norfolk police and Norfolk County Council all had contact with the family before the deaths.

It also comes at a time of national scrutiny of the issue, after a man with extreme mental illness who killed three people in Nottingham was sentenced to indefinite detention in a high-security hospital.

At a County Hall meeting on Tuesday, councillor Ed Maxfield, leader of the Independent group, said: "I know we all share a sense of horror at the tragic deaths that occurred recently in Costessey.

"And I'm sure we have all noted that there is to be an internal inquiry into the killing of three people in Nottingham that has been so much in the news.

"Isn't one of the key problems that mental health support is divided between so many agencies - the police, adult social services, children's services, the mental health trust, whoever runs the 111 service for the NHS?

"It is everyone's responsibility, so the danger is it becomes no one's responsibility to take the lead."

County councillor Ed Maxfield (Image: Supplied by Ed Maxfield)

CHANGES ARE NEEDED

Mr Maxfield added: "I think there is a strong case for some form of open inquiry into mental health support in Norfolk given what happened in Costessey but also the continued failings of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).

"The changes needed are system-wide but inquiries into local incidents can lead to strong recommendations for change that can be taken up by government."

The NSFT has already announced it is holding a "serious incident review" into its dealings with Kuczynski to see if it missed any opportunities.

The trust has a long history of poor performance, having been placed in special measures by the care regulator four times since it was formed in 2012.

The most recent data shows that 5,175 people in Norfolk and Waveney have been waiting longer than 18 weeks for its services, while earlier this year an extraordinary report into mortality data found there had been more than 8,000 "unexpected" deaths of its patients in the past three years alone.

Mr Maxfield asked Kay Mason Billig, the Conservative-controlled council's leader if she agreed a public inquiry was needed and that the county council could "take the lead in co-ordination and provision of effective mental health support".

Mrs Mason Billig said: "I understand that the family involved were known to us and there had been issues before, but I think to blame somebody is not the right way forward."

She said the council works closely with organisations such as NSFT, to ensure a joined-up service, but there had "always been a slight disconnect".

She added: "It is a shame it doesn't come under one banner, but that's not something we as a county council can change. That's a government decision.

"I'm very sad about what happened and I think we can learn lessons from it. but I don't think we as a council can change how this is dealt with."

Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

999 CALL

Kuczynski called 999 in a "confused" state shortly before 6am on the day of the deaths, but police did not send officers to the address until a second call a dog walker made an hour later.

Police found four bodies in the Queen's Hill home (Image: Denise Bradley)

That response to the 999 call is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is also looking into a previous incident, in December, when Kuczynski went missing.

He was found by police, who took him to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where he was assessed by the emergency team.

Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust confirmed last week he had been known to their services before that incident.

They confirmed a team had gone to the hospital that day to carry out a full mental health assessment, but he left before they arrived.

The trust confirmed an externally-led serious incident review had been launched.

CONCERNS OVER NEW SCHEME

Concerns about Norfolk police's scheme called Right Person, Right Care, due to start next month, were also raised at County Hall.

That scheme, a partnership with health agencies, would see those calling 999 requiring urgent mental health support receiving care from the most appropriate agency, rather than police being called out. 

Officers would continue to attend if there is a threat to life or a person at risk of serious harm, but critics worry it will lead to a deterioration in services.

County councillor Emma Corlett (Image: Emma Corlett)

Independent councillor Emma Corlett sought reassurances over how it would be evaluated, saying analysis of a similar scheme in Humberside had only focused on police hours, rather than on safety, patients or families.

County councillor Alison Thomas (Image: Archant)

Alison Thomas, the council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "I share your concerns about how Right Place, Right Care will be rolled out, particularly in light of events in Costessey."