About this page. This page summarises a Domestic Homicide Review published in the Home Office DHR Library. The full report is available at the source link below. Victim and perpetrator names are not included in extracted summaries on this page.
Source · Domestic Homicide Review
Sandwell review
CSP: Sandwell
Published: April 2023
Year of death: 2012
Extracted: 5 recs
Statutory domestic homicide review under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Source: Home Office DHR Library.
View full report (PDF) ↗
Source: Home Office DHR Library
Summary
The review identified concerns regarding the monitoring of the perpetrator's mental health, particularly in relation to repeat prescriptions and communication between mental health services and the GP. It also questioned the suitability of DHR guidance for cases without prior identified domestic abuse.
Extracted recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressed to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | To ensure that discharges are appropriate, both for the patient’s well-being and that of their family and the wider community, the DNA (did not attend) policy to be revised and re-launched and compliance monitored | Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| 2 | The practice to review their repeat prescribing protocol in respect of antidepressant prescribing to include requirements for periodic medication review to ensure that the patient receives effective treatment. | Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group |
| 3 | The practice to receive training on record keeping and consider implementing templates to assist in consultations for those patients with mental health needs in order to ensure effective record keeping is in place and that the patient receives appropriate care. | Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group |
| 4 | That, in order to improve safe practice and patient care, the Safer Sandwell Partnership asks NHS England, Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Area Team to remind all GPs practices of the potential risks of repeat prescribing protocols, particularly for patients with mental health issues. To support and inform best practice the NHS England, Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Area Team will also circulate the Medical Protection Society guidance “Repeat prescribing for GPs” (March 2013) to all GPs practices. | NHS England, Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Area Team |
| 5 | That; in order to optimise the use of agencies’ resources (notably time and money) most effectively and efficiently, whilst still achieving the purpose of the domestic homicide review; the Safer Sandwell Partnership asks the Home Office to consider the option of different approaches to the undertaking DHRs in different circumstances (cf: the new guidance in relation to children’s reviews ). | Home Office |
| Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗ | ||