Birmingham mental health patient sent home before flat fall

Lion Allamby has been diagnosed with schizophrenia

A man who jumped out of the window of his flat while believing "he could fly" had been sent home three times by mental health services.

Lion Allamby's family said they were concerned it could happen, despite him posing a danger to himself and others.

In the week before the fall - in which he broke several bones - he had driven dangerously on a motorway and been found wandering naked.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust said it took concerns seriously.

A diagnosis of schizophrenia predated the run of recent events that began in September with Mr Allamby, from Birmingham, being taken into hospital after the motorway incident in which he collided with a number of cars.

He spent two weeks at the trust's Oleaster Unit, a mental health treatment centre, and then moved to George Ward, another treatment centre, for another week when, his family said, he was unexpectedly released.

He was found naked and wandering the streets by police on 25 September, less than 24 hours later, and taken into care.

His former girlfriend Louise Stones said she gave repeated warnings he was unwell.

In a complaint by email to the local integrated care board which commissions services from the trust, she said she had asked to be notified if he left the mental health unit as she was concerned about him visiting her, but was not informed.

She wrote: "I am worried that if some medical body does not step forward and take charge of this situation then Lion will die.

"I fear time is of the essence and I do not want to be sending another email because Lion has hurt himself or someone else."

After the street-wandering incident, he was again allowed home, and in a visit on 30 September, his brother Nathan Allamby was so disturbed by his behaviour, he called paramedics, who decided Mr Allamby should be taken to hospital - but he was again allowed home.

On 3 October, fire crews were called to a blaze in his third floor flat.

Mr Allamby had jumped several floors on to a canopy, but as firefighters tried to reach him, he fell on to concrete below.

Lion Allamby needed hospital treatment after the fire

Nathan Allamby said his brother believed he could fly.

"I got him arrested only for him to be out the next morning," he said.

"I am worried that he is going to hurt himself or someone else."

After treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for fractures to ribs, a leg and a foot, plus spinal injuries, Mr Allamby's mother Sharon Mullings said he was released on 1 November with nowhere to go as the property had been damaged.

She said she was stunned, given his history, that he was "put out on to the streets".

He spent the night in a hotel, before staying with a relative.

The family said there had been no contact with mental health services in the community.

Nathan Allamby said families were not getting the support they needed

"It makes me very angry and also very sad for all the families involved and all the people who have lost their lives when they need help and they are not getting it," Nathan Allamby said.

The patient himself added: "I have been let down, neglected, betrayed because they have not cared for me."

A spokesperson for the trust said it could not comment on specific cases but added: "We take any concerns raised with us seriously and are committed to listening to patients and carers and delivering improvements across our services."

The trust has been subject to eight prevention of further death notices by the coroner over the past two years.

The NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board said a quality summit, held earlier this year, helped it "chart a path toward improving the quality of mental health care in Birmingham and Solihull".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) stated it had carried out an inspection of the trust, with its report still to be published.

West Midlands Police said an investigation was ongoing into the fire, adding the force had spoken to Mr Allamby.

Regarding his living circumstances, Citizen Housing, of which Mr Allamby was a tenant, said it was supporting him and advised him to contact Birmingham City Council as the authority was responsible for temporary housing.

Citizen Housing added it was unable to comment on when Mr Allamby could return to his flat.

Birmingham City Council said Mr Allamby was a tenant of Citizen Housing and it was its responsibility to house him.