Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2022

Matthew McManus

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2022-0044, written 11 Feb 2022. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report11 Feb 2022
Reference2022-0044
DeceasedMatthew McManus
CoronerAnna Morris
Coroner areaGreater Manchester South
CategoryMental Health related deaths · Suicide (from 2015) · Other related deaths · Alcohol, drug and medication related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published2

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28:  REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:  

The Secretary of State for Health and  Social Care 

Greater Manchester  Health and Social Care Partnership 

1  CORONER 

I am Anna  Morris, Assistant  Coroner  for Greater Manchester South 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this  report under  paragraph  7, Schedule  5, of the Coroners  and 
Justice Act 2009 and regulations  28 and 29 of the Coroners 
(Investigations)  Regulations  2013. 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

An inquest  was opened  on the 26th November 2020. The inquest  was 
heard  between the 17th and 21st January 2022.  The medical cause of 
death  was recorded as- 

1a   Multiple  Injuries 

The conclusion  of the inquest  was suicide. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Matthew was 36 years old  at the time of his  death.  Matthew had struggled 
with his mental health  throughout  his  adult life. In 2020 his mental  health 
deteriorated  leading  to a number of crisis presentations  to hospital  in April 
and May for assessment  under the Mental Health  Act. He was diagnosed 
with a Personality  Disorder  which was characterised  by his changeable 
presentation,  difficulty in regulating  his emotions  and his experience  of 

1 

 becoming distressed,  being  impulsive and  having intrusive  thoughts  of 
self-harm and suicide.  Matthew had been a heroin  user in the past  but 
had not used  heroin  for over a decade  and was prescribed  opiate 
substitutes. 

On the 22nd  July 2020 Matthew was sentenced  to a Community 
Rehabilitation  Order and was subject to supervision  by probation.  In 
August  he was referred by probation  to the Salford Criminal  Justice Team 
provided  by Greater Manchester Mental Health  Trust. Matthew was also 
seeing  a Substance  Misuse  worker at Achieve and by August  2020  had 
started  sessions  aimed at a full detox from Subutex.  He was also referred 
to the Community Mental Health Team. They assessed  Matthew in 
September  2020 and referred him to a community-based  psychiatrist. 
The assessment  determined  that  Matthew did  not require  the Care 
Programme Approach and therefore he was not allocated  a Care 
Coordinator. 

On the 29th  October, there  were concerns about  Matthew's behaviour. 
Police attended  and took him to hospital  to be assessed  under  the Mental 
Health  Act. He was then discharged  back to police  custody. Whilst  in 
police custody between  the 30th October and 2nd November Matthew 
made repeated  threats  to his own life. 

Matthew appeared  before Magistrates  on the 2nd November, where he 
was made subject to bail conditions  that restricted  his  access to entering 
the area where his  children lived and from having contact with their 
mother. Family and  particularly his  children were very important  to 
Matthew. Later on, the 2nd  November, Matthew presented  as very 
distressed  to his  probation  officers. They were concern about the risk he 
presented  to himself had increased  and were aware that one of his 
protective factors, namely his children  had been  impacted by his bail 
conditions,  they conveyed him to hospital  for assessment  by the Mental 
Health  Liaison  Team. He was seen  but not assessed  as requiring  an 
inpatient  admission  under the Mental Health  Act. As a result  of his bail 
conditions,  Matthew lost an allocation  of housing  that he had been 
looking  forward to moving into near  friends and family. This would likely 
have had a further impact of Matthew's mental health. 

On the 5th November 2020 Matthew had a conversation  with a Children's 
Social Worker from which it is likely that  he believed  that  his access to his 
children  would need  to be supervised.  This  is also likely to have had an 
impact on Matthew's mental  health. 

On Monday 9th November 2020,  Matthew was of no fixed abode  and had 
been  staying with friends in the Stockport area. He contacted  his 
substance  misuse worker to find out when their  next appointment  was. 

During that  conversation,  Matthew told her that he was thinking  about 
going  to buy heroin  to end  his life. His worker reminded  him of protective 
factors and of their future appointments.  Matthew then  spoke to his 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 probation  officer, and repeated  that  he had thought  about  buying heroin 
to end his life, but he expressed  an intention  to keep attending 
appointments  and said  he did not now have any intention  to buy 
substances.  His Probation  Officer later sent  him by text the details  of 
temporary accommodation in the North Manchester  Area. Matthew also 
spoke to his mother. She was concerned about  him because  of texts they 
had exchanged  over the weekend in which Matthew had indicated  that he 
was low in mood and said  that he was 'done'. 

At 19:50  Matthew was seen on CCTV attending 
in South Manchester.  He entered  the 
on the Manchester 

. At 19:56  Matthew was 

 at 19:53  and began  to walk 

injuries  and died at the scene. Toxicological  analysis  confirmed the use of 
prescribed  medication  use before death  including  Buprenorphine. 

  travelling  at speed.  Matthew sustained  multiple 

I must determine  whether Matthew intended  to take his  own life. I do so 
on the balance  of probabilities.  I take into  account his diagnosis  of 
personality  disorder,  his  fluctuation in presentations  and his  impulsivity. 
The description  of his  mood on the 9th November by his mother and Ms. 
Foley, combined with his historic  pattern  of intrusive  thoughts  of suicide 
and suicidal  acts, and the evidence  from the CCTV footage. The CCTV 
evidence showed  that Matthew attended  a 

 within  3 minutes  of arrival and that prior to entering  the 

allowed  himself to 
that Matthew is likely to have been aware of the sound  of the 
ultimately 
.  I therefore conclude 
on the balance  of probabilities  that  Matthew intended  to take his  own life. 

 that 

 he 
.  I also  find 

I find that although  there were a number of agencies  in contact with, 
working with or supporting  Matthew, including  probation,  the Criminal 
Justice Liaison  Team, Achieve, Salford City Council Housing  Services 
and Salford City Council Children's  Services there  was no co-ordinated 
approach  to his  care and support  and  there was no single  agency or 
person  co-ordinating  the planning  of his care and support  across the 
relevant  agencies. 

I find that although  there were examples of good communication between 
some agencies,  there  was a lack of a holistic  and co-ordinated  approach 
to Matthew's needs  and that this  co-ordinated  approach  could have led to 
a fuller understanding  by those  agencies  as a whole of the risks he posed 
to himself, particularly from the 29th  October onwards  and an opportunity 
to put in place an effective risk management  plan. Therefore,  this lack of 
a co-ordinated  approach  possibly  made a more than minimal contribution 
to his death. 

Conclusion:  Suicide 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows.  –  

Matthew McManus had complex mental health  and  social care needs.  He 
was in contact with a significant number of agencies  many of which 
focused on the risk that Matthew posed  to others.  However, the evidence 
before me, particularly  that of the Salford Safeguarding  Board indicates 
that no -one saw Matthew as the vulnerable  adult  he was and addressed 
how his own complex needs  were to be met, either  through  a Care Act 
assessment  or any other means.   

, on behalf of the Safeguarding  Board who conducted a 

Safeguarding  Adult  Review told the Inquest  that there was no one person 
or agency co-ordinating  his support  and  care, meaning  that Matthew did 
not have a single  point of contact to help  him understand  and navigate 
the services being  offered to him. This  became particularly  concerning 
when Matthew’s  mental health  declined,  making him more erratic and 
difficult to contact. This  left already stretched  services to do what they 
could to pull information  together  from their own resources  or 
conversations  with other agencies.  Without  proper  co-ordination,  there 
was no full information sharing,  joint  assessment,  or joint  planning  of 
Matthew’s  support,  which meant there  was never a f ull appreciation  of the 
risk he posed  to himself, and no real care plan  was in place to manage 
that risk.  

Without  a clear pathway for agencies  to jointly assess  and co-ordinate 
care in the case of adults  with complex mental health  and social  care 
needs,  I am concerned that future deaths  will occur.  

A copy of the SSAB Safeguarding  Adult  Review can be found at this link 
https://safeguardingadults.salford.gov.uk/media/1291/version-for-
publication-ssab-discretionary-sar-mathew.pdf 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion  action  should  be taken to prevent  future deaths  and I 
believe  you have the power to take such action 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond  to this  report within 56 days of the date 
of this report,  namely by 11th February  2022. I, the coroner, may extend 
the period. 

Your response  must contain  details  of action taken or proposed  to be 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 taken, setting  out the timetable  for action. Otherwise  you must explain 
why no action is proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent  a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and  to the following 
Interested  Persons  The family of the deceased,  National  Probation 
Service, Salford City Council, Greater Manchester  Police and to the 
LOCAL SAFEGUARDING BOARD. I have also  sent it to Dr. 
(Little  Hulton Health  Centre) who may find it useful or of interest. 

I am also  under  a duty to send  the Chief Coroner  a copy of your 
response. 

The Chief Coroner  may publish  either or both in a complete or redacted 
or summary form. He may send a copy of this  report to any person  who 
he believes  may find it useful or of interest.  You may make 
representations  to me, the coroner,  at the time of your response,  about 
the release  or the publication  of your response  by the Chief Coroner. 

9 

11th February 2022 

Signature 

Anna Morris HM Assistant  Coroner for Greater Manchester South 

5

Responses

2 responses published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Department of Health and Social Care (PDF)
From Maria Caulfield MP 
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State 
Department of Health and Social Care 

Anna Morris                                                                                                     25 November 2022 
HM Coroners Court  
1 Mottram Street  
Mount Tabour  
Stockport  
SK1 3AG       

Dear Ms Morris,   

Thank  you  for  your  letter  of  11  February  2022  about  the  death  of  Matthew  McManus.  I  am 
replying as Minister with responsibility for Mental Health and am thankful to you for the additional 
time allowed.      

Firstly,  I  would  like  to  say  how  deeply  saddened  I  was  to  read  of  the  circumstances  of  Mr 
McManus’ death.  I can appreciate how distressing his death must be for his family and those 
who knew and loved him, and I offer my heartfelt condolences.    

Mr  McManus  was  clearly  experiencing  difficulties  that  were  compounded  by  the  intersecting 
issues that had brought him into contact with, or led him to the seek the support of, a range of 
local services.  From the Regulation 28 report you issued and the Salford Safeguarding Adults 
Board report that document links to, I understand that Mr McManus had complex needs that 
required  support  from  mental  health,  addiction  services  and  the  justice  system;  however,  it 
appears  he  did  not  meet  the  criteria  to  be  supported  under  the  Care  Programme  Approach 
(CPA),  which  would  have  provided  a  package  of  support  for  issues  (such  as  drug  use,  and 
suicide and self-harm risk).   

I would like to assure you that we are, through the development and implementation in local 
areas of the Community Mental Health Framework (CMHF), working to improve the way people 
with mental health conditions access joined-up support across health and social care, as well 
other parts of local systems. I would also like to assure you that more broadly we are bringing a 
broad  range  of  local  services  closer  together  through  the  Health  and  Care  Act  2022  and  the 
integrated care systems (ICSs) that were formed as a result.  

With  regard  to  joined-up  care,  the  NHS  Long  Term  Plan,  published  January  2019,  set  out  a 
commitment to transform community mental health services for adults and older adults, and the 
CMHF, published in September 2019, proposed replacing the CPA for community mental health 
services “whilst retaining its sound theoretical principles based on good care co-ordination and 
high-quality  care  planning”.  We  are  therefore  moving  away  from  the  CPA  towards  a  more 
broadly  accessible  community  mental  health  offer  with  patients  supported  by  a  named 
keyworker  who  works  with  and  within  a  multidisciplinary  (MDT)  team  made  up  of  a  range  of 
partners, which may include social care, housing and justice.  

In March 2022, NHSE published the Care Program Approach NHS England position statement3. 
The statement is published in order to support ICSs and mental health providers to transform, 
expand and improve their community mental health services and implement new modes in line 
with the CMHF.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The  shift  away  from  the  CPA  towards  the  CMHF  is  based  on  a  range  of  broad  principles, 
including: 

• 

that there is a named keyworker for all service users with a clearer MDT approach to 
both  assess  and  meet  the  need  of  service  users,  to  reduce  the  reliance  on  care  co-
ordinators and to increase resilience in systems of care, allowing all staff to make the 
best use of their skills and qualifications; and  

•  high-quality co-produced, holistic, personalised care and support planning for people with 
severe  mental  health  problems  living  in  the  community:  a  live  and  dynamic  process 
facilitated by the use of digital shared  care records and integration with other relevant 
care planning processes; with service users actively co-producing brief and relevant care 
plans with staff, and with active input from non-NHS partners where appropriate including 
social care (to ensure Care Act compliance), housing, public health and the voluntary, 
community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.  

Through implementing the CMHF, services will need to adopt clearer MDT-based approaches 
by ensuring that named keyworkers and patients are supported by a robust MDT integrated with 
care and the VCSE sector, which will help to address people social as well as clinical needs, 
rather than the system of care relying on a single care co-ordinator.  

All local areas have received funding to develop and begin delivering these new models of care.  
By the end of 2023/24, all areas will have one of these models in place, with care provided to at 
least 370,000 adults per year nationally.   

 With regard to increased joined up working between and within local organisations, the Health 
and Care Act 2022 is a key part of the government’s agenda to increase collaboration between 
the NHS and local authorities to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.  The Act has brought 
about the formation of ICS, which bring together a wide range of partners to deliver more joined-
up, personalised and preventative care for population and communities through more joined-up 
decision making across NHS Bodies, local authorities and other partners.   

Furthermore, in February, the Government published its integration white paper, ‘Joining up care 
for  people,  places  and  populations.’  The  paper  recognised  the  importance  of  clarity  of 
accountability  for  delivering  integrated  care  at  the  local,  or  ‘place’  level,  and  it  set  out 
opportunities for how this could be achieved. The Government is continuing with plans to further 
develop the opportunities set out in the white paper, to ensure all places have clear governance 
arrangements and accountability structures that deliver strong, effective leadership.  

I hope this response is helpful, and I thank you again for bringing this important issue to my 
attention.   

Kind regards, 

                                                MARIA CAULFIELD MP
Response from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (PDF)
Greater Manchester  Health and Social Care Partnership 
4th Floor 
3 Piccadilly Place 
London  Road 
Manchester  M1 3BN 

Date: 7 April 2022 

Ms A Morris  
HM Senior  Coroner 
Coroner’s  Court  
1 Mount Tabor   Street  
Stockport  
SK1 3AG 

Dear Ms Morris 

Re: Regulation  28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths – Matthew McManus 
09/11/20 

Thank you for your Regulation  28 Report dated  11/02/22  concerning  the sad death 
of Matthew McManus on 09/11/20.  On behalf  of Greater Manchester  Health & Social 
Care Partnership  or GMHSCP (which pending  legislation  will develop  into the GM 
Integrated  Care Board  (ICB) from the current shadow  structures  in July 2022),  I 
would like to begin  by offering our sincere condolences  to Mr McManus’ family for 
their loss. 

Thank you for highlighting  your concerns during  Mr McManus’ Inquest  which 
concluded  on 21 January 2022. On behalf of the Partnership,  I apologise  that you 
have had to bring these  matters of concern to our attention  but it is also  very 
important  to ensure  we make the necessary improvements  to the quality  and safety 
of future services.    

The inquest  concluded that Matthew’s  death  was a result  of 1a) Multiple  Injuries. 
Following  the inquest,  you raised  concerns in your Regulation  28 Report to Greater 
Manchester  Health and Social Care Partnership  (GMHSCP) that there is a risk future 
deaths  will occur unless  action is taken. 

 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I hope  the response  below demonstrates  to you and Mr McManus’ family that 
GMHSCP have taken the concerns you have raised  seriously  and will learn  from this 
as a whole system.  

This  letter addresses  the issues  that fall within the remit of GMHSCP and  how we 
can share  the learning  from this case. 

Coordination of care for adults with complex  mental health and social  care 
needs. 

GMHSCP acknowledges  that there  has been  a potential  gap in support  for a small 
number of patients  with complex mental health  and  social care needs.   

As a Greater Manchester  Health & Social Care system we are therefore fully 
committed to closing  such gaps and  ensuring  there  is no unwarranted  variation  in 
commissioning  practice.  

In accordance with the NHS Long  Term Plan, Greater Manchester  is developing  its 
Integrated  Care System (ICS). ICSs are new partnerships  between  the organisations 
that meet health  and care needs  across  an area, to coordinate  services and to plan 
in a way that improves population  health  and reduces  inequalities  between  different 
groups.  Integrated  care is about  giving people  the support  they need,  joined  up 
across local councils,  the NHS, and other partners.  It removes traditional  divisions 
between  hospitals  and family doctors, between  physical  and mental health,  and 
between  NHS and council services. 

Additionally,  Greater Manchester  has accelerated  use of the GM Care Record 
(GMCR) to support  data sharing  between health  and care professionals  across the 
region.  It now means that  all professionals  involved  in a patient’s  care can share vital 
information across  different organisations,  settings  and localities.  As well as 
informing clinical decision  making at the point  of care, the GMCR is also  being 
further enhanced  to support  joined  up care planning  and coordination  through  a 
range  of clinical use  cases. GMCR is now active between  the two GM mental health 
trusts,  GPs, and the hospital  trusts within  Greater Manchester.  The inclusion  of 
social  care data feeds is also  underway to further support  care planning  and 
coordination.  Access to the GMCR can be made available  to all relevant 
organisations  that  would have a requirement  to access data, i.e.  GP’s, acute trusts, 
councils and  private organisations. 

This  work will ensure  dedicated  space and attention  in Greater Manchester to work 
through  the issues  highlighted  in the Regulation  28 Report and share  learning 
between  all stakeholders.  This  will also  include formal oversight  and assurance 
through  to the refreshed Quality Board function within  GMHSCP and the GM ICB 
from July 2022. 

We can also  confirm that we will, going  forward, ensure  that we continue to work 
together  across  the Greater Manchester health  and care system so that  changes in 
practice are actioned and  reviewed.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 Actions taken  or being taken to share learning across  Greater Manchester. 

1.  Learning  to be presented/shared  with the Greater Manchester Quality Board.   

This  meeting is attended  by commissioners,  including  commissioners  of 
specialist  services, regulators,  Healthwatch  and NICE. 

2.  Shared  learning  from this  and similar cases  at Greater Manchester  and 

borough  level will be cascaded to professionals  through  relevant governance 
and learning  forums. 

In conclusion,  key learning  points  and recommendations  will be monitored to ensure 
they are embedded  within  practice. GMHSCP is committed to improving outcomes 
for the population  of Greater Manchester.  

I hope  this response  demonstrates  to you and  Mr McManus’ family that GMHSCP 
have taken the concerns you have raised  seriously  and are committed to work 
together  as a system including  our service users,  carers  and  families to improve the 
care provided.   

Thank you for bringing  these  important  patient  safety issues  to my attention  and 
please  do not hesitate  to contact me should  you need any further information. 

Yours sincerely 

Chair of GM Medical Executive, GMHSCP

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