PROBLEM OF LACK OF COMMUNICATION

12.00.00am GMT Wed 22nd Jan 2003

Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has expressed her concern over the apparent lack of communication between various agencies following a serious incident close to her office in Sandycombe Road, Kew, last Friday January 17th.

A community care patient had barricaded herself into her flat – from which she had earlier been evicted – and was threatening to harm herself. The MP was alerted by the patient's mother.

"No one could accuse the local services of lack of response," the MP said. "Most of the Community Mental Health team were there, so were what looked like half the local police force, not to mention the Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Service."

"What I am worried about is how the situation was allowed to get so out of hand in the first place. Did the Housing Department warn the CMH Team this lady was being evicted? If so, why were they not present?

"It seems to me a very dangerous situation was allowed to develop which could have been prevented by better communication."