After enduring the traumatic Nottingham attacks, a survivor still plagued by persistent “nightmare” agony expressed their frustration over not being informed about a report regarding the mental health services within the NHS that provided care to the assailant.
The perpetrator, Valdo Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, tragically ended the lives of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates in June 2023, inciting shock across the nation. Following these fatalities, he proceeded to target three more individuals in Nottingham.
An inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) into Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust revealed deficiencies in the mental health services, citing lapses in humane and dignified care for patients, including Calocane during his treatment between May 2020 and September 2022.
Survivor Wayne Birkett, alongside his legal representative Greg Almond, who also assisted fellow survivor Sharon Miller, voiced disappointment at not being involved in the CQC assessment process. They only learned about the report through media outlets a day before its release.
The CQC conducted 39 inspections at the trust between May 2024 and August 2025, preceding a comprehensive review of its leadership in September of the same year. Wayne, a former forklift operator, suffered severe injuries during the attacks, leaving him in a coma and enduring excruciating pain ever since.
Calocane pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and attempted murder, receiving an indefinite hospital order in January 2024, sparking public outcry for a murder conviction.
In its January publication, the CQC report highlighted regulatory breaches by the trust in its management practices, prompting the demand for an action plan. Among the trust’s 18 services, seven were flagged for improvement, with five mental health services falling under this category.
Expressing his dismay over the lack of prior notification, Wayne remarked, “We should have been informed and involved.” His lawyer Almond echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for victim inclusion and voice representation.
Ahead of a forthcoming public inquiry into the attacks, where they will meet Health Secretary Wes Streeting on February 5, Wayne and Almond advocate for victims’ participation and their perspectives to be heard.
Addressing the need for enhanced safety measures, Mr. Birkett stressed the imperative for improved NHS services to prevent future tragedies, indicating hope that government intervention, particularly through Health Secretary Wes Streeting, would bring about positive change.
Regarding the upcoming public inquiry chaired by retired judge Deborah Taylor, Almond expressed optimism that it would shed light on critical issues, emphasizing their commitment, alongside affected families, to pursue comprehensive investigations for accountability.
Reflecting on the CQC report’s revelations, Almond underscored the imperative of swift structural leadership changes within the trust, urging immediate government intervention to ensure public safety and restore confidence in Nottingham’s healthcare services.
The public inquiry, led by senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, is scheduled to commence on February 23, with a two-year timeframe for delivering outcomes.
Almond expressed hope that the inquiry would provide necessary answers and reiterated their determination, alongside the legal team and affected families, to exhaust all avenues in uncovering the truth.
In response to the Nottingham tragedy, the Care Quality Commission’s interim director of mental health, Jenny Wilkes, extended condolences to all impacted by the tragic events while emphasizing ongoing efforts to engage with survivors’ legal representatives for further discussions.