‘Other parents mustn’t go through our pain’ (From Bucks Free Press)

‘Other parents mustn’t go through our pain’

9:38am Thursday 29th December 2005 in News By Jenna Towler

THE parents of Ben Cargill, who was killed by a paranoid schizophrenic in Lowndes Park, Chesham, last year, have spoken out about plans to increase the level of care in the community for patients.

Jim and Judith Cargill of Rose Drive, Chesham, are still grieving the loss of their 24-year-old son who was killed by Robert Browning on Sunday, August 1, 2004.

Browning, a paranoid schizophrenic who had stopped taking his medication at the time of the killing, admitted Ben's manslaughter and remains in a secure hospital unit.

Ben was at an outdoor concert when his former flatmate, 22-year-old Browning, killed him in a frenzied knife attack.

More than a year on the Cargills are worried about plans to increase the number of people being treated in the community.

Mr Cargill said: "What concerns us most, and certainly in the case of our son's assailant, is that once the patient is back in the community they are trusted to take their own medication.

"This is very laudable, however, from what we have gleaned about the nature of such illness, and in particular paranoid schizophrenia, seems the patient may well self-diagnose their condition and decide to stop taking their medication."

He added: "We are very concerned at the possibility that there may be an increase in the number of such patients to be treated in the community.

"Unless the patient is seen every day by a qualified person such as a psychiatric nurse who would be able to ensure that they use their medication, we fear attacks, such as our son experienced, may increase."

The Cargills want all patients with violent tendencies or delusions to be carefully vetted and monitored before receiving outpatient treatment.

Mr Cargill said: "Then, should there be any doubt whatsoever, they must be treated in a secure unit. Of course, lack of funds, staff and hospital beds will all have an impact on the overall situation. It is however our opinion that this should never be the case."

He added: "How can it be achieved? We do not know, but we do know that we do not want other parents, husbands and wives to have to go through the continuing pain that we are experiencing and will experience for the rest of our lives."

Julie Waldron, Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust chief executive said: "I would like to say again to the Cargill family, on behalf of the trust, how sorry I am for the devastating loss of their son Ben.

"The circumstances surrounding the care and treatment of Robert Browning have been carefully and fully investigated by an independently chaired panel. The findings and recommendations from the report will be shared with the Cargill family early in the new year."

She added: "I can assure the Cargill family and the public that the trust will do everything in our power to prevent another tragic death like this and implement the recommendations from the report.

"I also want to reassure people that the trust has clear policies on providing high quality and safe care.

"We have a wide range of community based services to help people receive care outside of hospital.

"We assess each person individually and if a person requires hospital admission, we use our powers under the law to provide this."