Crisis team cancelled visit to man later found dead

Mr Kay's appointment with a mental health worker on the day he died had been cancelled, an inquest heard

A mental health worker said it had been a "huge mistake" to cancel a visit to a man who was found dead near a railway line later the same day.

An inquest into the death of Liverpool man Dan Kay heard that he had been taken to hospital with self-inflicted wounds to his neck on 1 May last year.

The 45-year-old former Liverpool Echo journalist and Hillsborough campaigner was sent home and was supposed to have daily visits to check on his welfare, but these were scaled back to alternate days and none was scheduled for 7 May - the day he died.

Mersey Care crisis team member Matthew Wigley told the inquest he did not know why the 7 May visit was cancelled, adding: "It was a huge mistake and I’m sorry."

Mr Kay was said to have "gone downhill" after having his dog put down

Under cross-examination from barrister Dr Cian Murphy, who was representing Mr Kay’s family, Mr Wigley admitted that Mersey Care’s standard procedure – to specify the level of care necessary and allocate a named, lead social worker – had not been followed.

The inquest heard that Mr Kay had taken an overdose of antidepressants and paracetamol at the end of April, shortly before injuring himself with a knife.

On Tuesday, the inquest heard Mr Kay had "gone downhill" after having to have his pet dog put to sleep after it had became aggressive and attacked his friend.

At the Royal Liverpool Hospital, a decision was made that he did not need to be detained.

Mental health nurse Meghan McGee was asked repeatedly why she had not triggered the process to have him detained under the Mental Health Act, despite knowing he had attempted to take his own life 26 years ago.

She said that during a three-hour conversation Mr Kay had told her he had no intention to act upon his suicidal thoughts, and wanted help and support.

Ms McGee said: "You could tell he was interested in people, his eyes lit up like crystals when he spoke of his pride in journalism, supporting the underdog and fighting for justice."

She added she had been left with "no concerns" that Mr Kay presented an immediate risk to himself.

"As he stood up to leave he asked me for a hug and said, 'I’ll see you in Allerton Road Tesco when I’m better'."

'No explanation'

The help Mr Kay was supposed to receive included daily visits, a course of medication and a treatment plan.

Mersey Care social worker Stephen Potter, a registered nurse, told the inquest he believed he was supposed to be visiting Mr Kay on 7 May and was surprised when he found the visit was not on his list for that day.

He said he had been told Mr Kay had cancelled the meeting because he was seeing friends. But Mr Potter admitted there was no record of this.

Assistant coroner Joseph Hart said there was "no note of when the call was made, who took it, no reason given and no explanation".

Mr Potter said he made attempts to contact Mr Kay on 7 May, and "jumped out of [his] chair" when he read an online news story about a body being found on the railway line close to where Mr Kay lived in South Liverpool.

He said he had called again and started writing his daily notes. Under cross-examination from Dr Murphy, Mr Potter accepted he had not acted in line with the care plan, which required him to call the police and Mr Kay’s friend Steve Kelly if he could not reach Mr Kay.

The inquest, at the Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool, continues.