A senior coroner in Birmingham has called for urgent action from three key organizations following the tragic death of Matthew Lynch. On July 11, 2023, Lynch, aged 43, was killed outside his home in Ashwin Road, Handsworth, by Kyle Doughty, his co-resident at a supported accommodation. The incident has raised serious questions about the adequacy of mental health support systems in the area.
Louise Hunt, the senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, has detailed concerns in a recently published report regarding the actions of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, Birmingham City Council, and Provident Housing. She has requested these organizations to explain their actions and identify failings related to Doughty's case. Hunt emphasized the importance of these organizations learning from past incidents to prevent future tragedies.
"This was important as non-compliance with medication was a risk factor for relapse." – Ms Hunt
Doughty, who suffered from "treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia," had a history of exacerbating his condition by discontinuing medication and using illegal substances. His condition was reportedly not adequately monitored by the trust after a clinic visit in May 2023. The day before Lynch's murder, Doughty was evicted from the Ashwin Road property after causing significant damage to his room.
Hunt's report highlighted several critical issues, including the failure to verify Doughty's updated address and resistance to collaboration between mental health professionals and city council services.
"This was a critical issue as the new address had not been updated on the clinical notes." – Ms Hunt
Furthermore, Hunt expressed concern that an internal investigation by the mental health trust did not address how Doughty's medication use should have been monitored.
In her findings, Hunt also noted that support workers involved in such cases require better training to manage residents with enduring mental health conditions effectively.
"The inquest heard evidence that support workers need more focussed training on mental health conditions and how to manage and help residents with enduring mental health conditions." – Ms Hunt
Following Doughty's guilty plea to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility at Birmingham Crown Court in July 2024, he received an indefinite hospital order. As part of her recommendations, Hunt has asked for a timetable of actions that the involved organizations might implement to address these concerns.
The BBC has contacted all involved organizations for comments on this report but has yet to receive any responses.
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