Nottingham Attack Survivor Warns of Repeat Without Mental Health Reform
A survivor of the devastating 2023 Nottingham attacks has issued a stark warning that similar incidents could happen again unless urgent improvements are made to mental health services in the region. Wayne Birkett, who suffered life-changing injuries in the assault, has criticised the lack of meaningful change at the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which was responsible for the mental health care of the perpetrator, Valdo Calocane.
Critical Failings in Care Identified
Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19-year-old students, and Ian Coates, a 65-year-old caretaker, in a frenzied stabbing spree in the early hours of 13 June 2023. Following these fatal attacks, he drove a van into Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller, and Marcin Gawronski, leaving all three with severe and permanent injuries.
In January 2024, Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order after admitting to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. A damning report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published later that year found a series of errors, omissions, and misjudgments in his mental health care, concluding that without action, these issues would continue to pose a significant risk to patient and public safety.
Ongoing Concerns and Calls for Intervention
Birkett, 62, who was placed in a coma after the attack and continues to manage complex brain and physical injuries, expressed deep concern that nothing has changed since the initial report. He fears this stagnation could lead to another similar tragedy, stating, "It already has happened again ... Wait for another Nottingham attack I suppose, it will happen unless something is done."
The trust was recently instructed to make significant improvements after the CQC conducted 39 inspections between May 2024 and August 2025. The watchdog concluded that five mental health services required improvement and identified breaches of regulation in ten other services, highlighting persistent systemic issues.
Greg Almond, a solicitor representing Birkett and Miller, echoed these concerns, noting that the continued failings of local services have led to a genuine fear that the public are not safe and that NHS mental health services in Nottingham remain inadequate. He emphasised the need for drastic action, which is why they are seeking a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on 5 February to call for serious intervention.
Personal Impact and Hopes for the Future
For Birkett, the aftermath of the attack has been a nightmare. He has no memory of the incident and struggles to recall his life before 13 June 2023. He is currently relearning basic skills such as reading, brushing his teeth, and holding cutlery. "Obviously I'm getting better than I was, but I don't think I'll ever get better, just got to learn to live with what is wrong," he said.
Birkett and Miller will participate in a public inquiry into the attacks, which aims to examine what happened and identify measures to prevent similar events in the future. Birkett expressed hope that the inquiry will help uncover the truth about everything that led to the tragedy.
Responses from Authorities
Ifti Majid, the chief executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare, stated that the trust is committed to providing high-quality and safe care. "We have already made significant improvements since the CQC's last inspection but fully appreciate there is still more to do. We will be addressing all areas identified in the report," he said.
A government spokesperson offered deepest sympathies to those affected by the attacks and highlighted ongoing efforts to reform mental health services. These include reforming the Mental Health Act and ensuring that every mental health provider reviews and sets out action plans for caring for people with serious mental illness. The spokesperson added that the government is committed to delivering fundamental changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Nottingham attacks, the calls for robust and effective mental health care reforms grow louder, with survivors like Wayne Birkett urging immediate action to safeguard public safety.
