Bexleyheath knife murder: Nurses fired for lying how they chased killer Nicola Edgington

Queen Elizabeth Hospital where Afam Obosi and Alhaji Mansaray worked as mental health nurses. Queen Elizabeth Hospital where Afam Obosi and Alhaji Mansaray worked as mental health nurses.

TWO nurses were sacked for lying about their conduct on the morning of Nicola Edgington’s murderous Bexleyheath rampage.

The 32-year-old was convicted at the Old Bailey this afternoon of murdering Sally Hodkin, 58, and attempting to murder then 22-year-old Kerry Clark in the town centre on the morning of October 10, 2011.

Afam Obosi and Alhaji Mansaray were fired from their jobs as mental health nurses at the Oxleas unit in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich after giving an inquiry false accounts of how they chased after Edgington when she fled the unit through a door which was meant to be locked.

The mental patient absconded without warning at 7am while waiting to be admitted to Oxleas and CCTV footage showed neither Obosi or Mansaray went after her. An employment tribunal in August 2012 found the pair were not unfairly dismissed.

The head of Oxleas NHS Trust has apologised to Mrs Hodkin’s family over the incident.

Chief executive Stephen Firn said: “I am very sorry that this tragic incident happened and would like to express again my sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Hodkin.

“It is a matter of extreme regret that she was able to leave the unit before being admitted and subsequently carried out this dreadful crime.”

An inquiry conducted by the trust concluded the decision to recommend to the Ministry of Justice Edgington be discharged from the secure Bracton Centre in Dartford in 2009 was sound.

She subsequently lived at Ambedkar House, Flavell Mews in Greenwich and received community care.

Mr Firn added: “The report makes several recommendations which have all been put into place and reviewed regularly by the board of directors.

“In line with national NHS requirements there will now be an independent inquiry.”

More stories on Nicola Edgington Bexleyheath knife murder

Comments(8)

matt 2285 says...
8:40pm Thu 7 Feb 13

disgusting behaviour

lollie,erith says...
11:16pm Thu 7 Feb 13

a total cover up and lies. they diagnosed her with schizophrenia and now she has killed again, they stated she was misdiagnosed. the authorities are trying to distance themselves from blame which is appalling. the police just dumped and left her at queen elizabeth hospital even though she said she was scared and explained she would kill someone. the mental health service is appalling and will remain like it. when things like this happen no-one is accountable. yes two doctors lost their jobs but no doubt they will get another. the family of sally hodkin has lost her life and the other lady almost lost hers.

saveusfromhell says...
2:54am Fri 8 Feb 13

"Chief executive of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Stephen Firn said that a report into her treatment found that the decision to let her live in the community in 2009 was sound.

Mr Firn said: "I am very sorry that this tragic incident happened and would like to express again my sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Hodkin.

"The trust inquiry report concluded that the decision to recommend to the Ministry of Justice that Nicola Edgington was discharged from the Bracton Centre in 2009 was sound and the care she received in the community following her discharge was of good quality."

However he admitted that it was "a matter of extreme regret" that Edgington was able to leave mental health unit Oxleas House on the morning of the stabbings.

He said: "It is a matter of extreme regret that she was able to leave the unit before being admitted and subsequently carried out this dreadful" crime."

THEN HE JUST SACKS TWO POOR NURSES!

WHEN IS HE GOING TO BE FIRED?

WHAT ABOUT ALL HIGHLY PAID MANAGERS WHO PAY THEMSELVES HUGE SALARIES?

Hello_Mate says...
2:43pm Fri 8 Feb 13

(a) they're not "poor nurses" they lied to cover their own a***s and got caught
(b) maybe if they HAD stopped her, the nice lady from Bexleyheath may still be here with her family, so in a sense they're as responsible for her untimely death as the nutter herself.
The mental health system is screwed, so how many more people will be murdered until something is done?
As for her punishment she should be given a lethal injection, not 2yrs in a nice warm nut-house then re-released into general population.

lollie,erith says...
3:05pm Fri 8 Feb 13

i agree with everything you say but not to put to death mentally ill patients. they knew she was mentally ill and shouldve been kept off the streets. theyre just letting loads of people out for financial reasons and its the public who are on the receiving end of terrible things like this.

lollie,erith says...
3:05pm Fri 8 Feb 13

i agree with everything you say but not to put to death mentally ill patients. they knew she was mentally ill and shouldve been kept off the streets. theyre just letting loads of people out for financial reasons and its the public who are on the receiving end of terrible things like this.

mouthalmighty says...
9:22pm Fri 8 Feb 13

We've all seen unwell people out and about in the community, but what about the ones that do not show outwardly their intentions.

lollie,erith says...
9:37pm Sat 9 Feb 13

these 'Trusts' are more than likely told to certify a percentage of patients as no risk to the community to save their precious money. there are probably more ticking timebombs than we realise walking around. its all too common in now. so worrying. a lady in east london walking home and a man came out of his flat and attacked her with an axe. an off duty policemen in the area and managed to fight him off, otherwise she wouldve been killed. so scary.

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