REPORT OF AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY ... - Hundred Families

13. Chandran’s medication on discharge was Lithium Carbonate 800mgs nocte. His proposed
treatment plan was:
a) To be followed up in the outpatient clinic at Newham General Hospital by Dr Littlejohn (a
Psychiatric Registrar) about two months later when his Lithium Carbonate was to be
regularly reviewed with serial serum Lithium levels to ensure that the Lithium level was
within the therapeutic range.
b) A Section 117 meeting had been planned for 15th October 1991.
c) Referral to the Community Psychiatric Nurses’ (CPN) team at the Lord Lister Health Centre
for support.
d) Lithium Carbonate treatment for at least two years.
e) A Social Worker with the Mental Health Team was to keep in touch with both Chandran and
his father with regard to their housing situation and to ensure that they both got appropriate
representation for a pending Court appearance.
f) Encouragement to re-attend his art course at St Martin’s College.
The Treatment Plan
Outpatient review
14. On his discharge from Goodmayes Hospital, Chandran seems to have gone to live briefly with
the Ramkrishnans. He then returned to the flat in Corporation Street and lived there with his
father.
15. He did not attend an outpatient appointment on 16th September 1991, which had been arranged
in accordance with the treatment plan on discharge from Goodmayes Hospital.
16. On 20th September 1991, Dr Littlejohn wrote to a Peter Williams at the Homeless Persons Unit
supporting an application by Chandran for assistance with his housing needs. Dr Littlejohn
recorded:
“Mr Sukumaran had a long admission to Goodmayes Hospital ... He made an excellent
recovery and was free of any symptoms when he left hospital. Unfortunately, his mental
illness tends to recur and he is quite likely to have serious breakdowns in the future. ...
“Mr Sukumaran junior remains vulnerable to stress and in need of continued assistance from
your department.”
17. On 28th January 1992, Dr Feldman saw Chandran Sukumaran (and his uncle) for half an hour.
She had been asked to prepare a report expressing an opinion as to whether he was well enough
to give instructions to his solicitors in relation to a claim for personal injuries arising out of an
accident on 2nd August 1987. She reported as follows:
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