Hospital probes yet another death

The hospital from which killer John Barrett walked free is today at the centre of a major investigation into how he was allowed out to kill.

Springfield Hospital is already notorious after a nurse was beaten to death on a ward by a patient in 2003. The hospital, in Tooting, has ordered an internal inquiry into what it dismissed as "potential failures".

But campaigners called for it to be the subject of a full external inquiry into its treatment of Barrett. The difficulties at Springfield highlight the problems of care in the community and mental health provision in London. One of London's other mental health trusts in north London is also under investigation over two patients who allegedly were allowed out to kill.

Today campaigners said there had to be major reforms to the community care system in London and a massive injection of cash to deal with the mounting crisis. They said careinthe-community could only work if adequate facilities were in place to treat individuals.

Charities and experts argue that when the Victorian asylums were closed, not enough thought was given to providing alternative care. Ministers also admit the laws on the treatment of potentially dangerous mental health patients are inadequate.

A Bill going through Parliament would allow those posing the greatest risk to be locked up on doctors' orders. But the proposals have met resistance from mental health campaigners.