Bomere Heath stabbing: Family of convict consider legal action against health professionals for failing him
The family of a man convicted of trying to kill his partner and attacking his mother are considering legal action against health professionals for failings in his care.
Wayne Williams, 54, of Sefton Drive, Bomere Heath, near Shrewsbury, was sent to prison for eight years in July when he admitted one charge of attempted murder and another of grievous bodily harm with intent.
In the months before the March attack, he had been suffering from anxiety and depression and had been diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, which caused him considerable pain and distress.
He had tried to kill himself on a number of occasions and his family had repeatedly sought urgent medical help to address his mental health problems.
But after being told there was no bed available at The Redwoods in Shrewsbury and referring him to South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 's Rapid Assessment, Intervention & Discharge (RAID) team, his family were left to deal with the situation on their own.
Within days he had stabbed his partner and attacked his 86-year-old mother with a rounders bat and once again caused serious wounds to himself at the bungalow the three shared in Bomere Heath.
Now a prisoner at HMP Featherstone in Staffordshire, Williams, who worked for Perkins Engineering for 39 years and was a well-known character around Bomere Heath, fully accepts what he did was wrong and is visited on a weekly basis by his family and partner.
His sister, former Shrewsbury and Atcham Mayor, Judith Williams said: "We, as a family, are considering legal action against the health trust for the way they mismanaged Wayne's care.
"He had been misdiagnosed, prescribed medication and steroids which he was allergic to and he repeatedly asked for their help. He was ignored. And it came to this.
"He knows what he did was wrong, he accepts his sentence. My mother has forgiven him for what he did as has his partner. We are a very close knit family and we have all pulled together to get through this.
"But if there had been a mental health service available to him, that could have helped him deal with his troubles, then none of us would now be in this situation.
"Taking legal action may prevent something like this happening to another family. Lessons have to be learned.
"He is now off all of the tablets he had been prescribed before the attack. He is back to normal."
A spokesman for South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are unable to comment on the fact or detail of any individual’s contact with our services.
"However we would wish to reassure the public that anyone who is referred to our service will have a robust risk assessment to determine whether they are a danger to themselves or others.
"When such risk is identified the individual will receive appropriate, evidence-based care from our community or inpatient teams as appropriate.
"We would urge anyone who is unhappy with any aspect of the service or care they receive from South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 318850 customerservices@sssft.nhs.uk"
