The death of a man who fell from height in Walworth has prompted calls for a serious case review into the conduct of a local mental health service.
Local MP Neil Coyle (pictured) said South London and Maudsley (SLaM) “could have done more” to help the man – who was known to SLaM.
A spokesperson for SLaM has since confirmed that a “full investigation” will take place and offered its “heartfelt condolences” to the victim’s loved ones.
On Monday, April 23, a man, who cannot yet be legally identified, died after plummeting from a building on Browning Street, the previous Wednesday.
According to police, he fell from a window before specialist negotiators could arrive.
Police have confirmed that they were called as recently as April 12 to an incident that saw the man admitted to hospital. They are still trying to locate his next-of-kin.
Mr Coyle said that the man was discharged from SLaM days before his death although the hospital said it could not confirm this due to patient confidentiality.
The Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP said: “I am seeking a serious case review into the death of a man well known to local mental health services.
“He was discharged just days before this tragic incident.
“For too long the police and councils across the country have picked up the pieces of the tattered mental health system and I am very concerned that SLaM could have done more.”
Multiple authorities, including the police and healthcare professionals, do have powers to detain unwell individuals under the Mental Health Act.
Coyle added: “Whatever risk assessment was done – clearly the package of support did not prevent the ultimate tragedy.”
The News has asked SLaM whether, when and why the individual was discharged and if he was engaging with treatment at that time.
SLaM said it could not comment on the individual’s case at this time.
As is obligated whenever somebody dies following police contact, the case has been referred by the Met Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). An IOPC spokesperson said: “I can confirm we received a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service on 20 April and we will make a decision on what, if any, action will be taken by us in due course.”
A SLaM spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends. We are unable to disclose information about individual patients due to patient confidentiality.”
“For any serious incident like this that occurs, the Trust conducts a full investigation to ensure learning and understanding that can be taken forwards. The immediate learning, review and actions have already happened, and the full investigation is ongoing.”