Schizophrenic killer 'failed by health services'

Schizophrenic was discharged three times

A schizophrenic who went on to kill his mother was the victim of "low standards" from health and social services chiefs, a report says.

Garry Lythgoe was admitted and discharged as a psychiatric patient three times before he attacked his parents with a hammer.

Our abiding impression of the mental health services is of low standards, indifferent leadership and minimal expectations for quality

Dr Donald Dick, inquiry chairman

Despite being diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic who had shown threatening behaviour to his mother Irene, Lythgoe lost contact with psychiatric services in Wigan and Leigh, Greater Manchester, before the killing.

The external inquiry report said Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust, Wigan and Bolton Health Authority and Wigan Social Services all failed to carry out their duty of care of Lythgoe.

Officials of all three bodies today apologised "unreservedly" for their handling of the case.

The 26-year-old's father Nigel Lythgoe, who has now recovered from the attack in October 1998, said he hoped "no family would have to endure what we have had to endure".

Inquiry chairman Dr Donald Dick said Lythgoe had been the victim of "poor organisation, low standards and indifferent leadership".

He said: "There were a number of lost opportunities in his management from the time when he first made contact with the services to the time of his mother's death.

"At the first contact, he did not have a psychiatric assessment and the seriousness of his illness was missed.

"There was little communication with his family at any time and only a sketchy evaluation of the social circumstances was carried out.

"Our abiding impression of the mental health services is of low standards, indifferent leadership and minimal expectations for quality."

He added that despite the criticism, the inquiry did not believe the attack could have been predicted.

Manslaughter

Lythgoe was convicted of the manslaughter of his mother Irene and the attempted murder of his father Nigel at Manchester Crown Court in April 1999.

He is currently detained at Ashworth top security hospital in Maghull, Merseyside.

The report revealed Lythgoe was first admitted to a psychiatric ward at Leigh Infirmary in July 1997 following threatening behaviour towards his mother. He was discharged a month later and readmitted in March 1998.

Three days later Lythgoe absconded to London where he was admitted to a hospital before being taken back to Leigh Infirmary.

In April 1998 the patient was discharged from hospital and from then all contact with psychiatric services was lost, the report said.

On October 10 1998, Lythgoe, in an acute psychotic state, attacked his mother with a hammer in her bed and seriously assaulted his father.

His mother died three days later.

In a statement following publication of the report, his father said: "Our main hope is that no family will have to endure what we have had to endure, and that the recommendations of the report are implemented throughout the land."

Sheena Cumiskey, chief executive of Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust, said: "We fully accept the criticisms and recommendations put forward by the inquiry team and I should like to take this opportunity publicly to apologise to Mr Lythgoe's family for our failure to provide an adequate standard of care."