Failings found in care of patient who killed himself after being discharged

A report has found serious failings in the treatment of man who killed himself after being discharged from a psychiatric hospital.

The Mental Welfare Commission has published its investigation into the care of Mr QR, prior to his death, by a health board in Scotland.

Mr QR took his own life on 31 December, 2014, after being discharged from the unit two days earlier.

It was found that the process of diagnosing him was “seriously flawed”.

Mike Diamond, executive director, said: “The question of whether Mr QR’S death may have been preventable under different mental health management could not be stated with certainty. However, after a thorough investigation, I can say we have serious concerns that Mr QR was not rigorously treated, and the manner of his discharge was completely unacceptable.

“We question the diagnosis given to Mr QR, and we believe that diagnosis - of personality disorder and factitious disorder - affected the way in which Mr QR was treated. Every patient, no matter their diagnosis, should be treated with dignity and respect and we do not believe that happened in this case.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Any death by suicide is a tragedy and the Minister for Mental Health offers her deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr QR who have been bereaved in this sad way. The Scottish Government takes the issue of mental health very seriously and the Minister thanks the Mental Welfare Commission for this very thorough report. The Minister expects the board with responsibility for the consideration and implementation of the report’s recommendations to do so.”