Liberal Democrats say pressure is building on the Whittington Hospital to make a full statement about the circumstances surrounding the death of Roger Sutherland who died on 7 February 2004 after setting fire to his flat when he should have been cared for by the hospital.

Haringey Labour Councillor Narendra Makanji was recently appointed as chair of the Whittington NHS Trust.

Roger’s family had turned for advice over the last four months to Liberal Democrat Councillor Ron Aitken and he had believed only last Wednesday that Roger was going to be admitted as a psychiatric patient.

“I am aware of at least 6 or 7 occasions in the last two weeks when Roger’s condition was made known to the Whittington, his GP and the Ambulance Service,” said Cllr Aitken. “In light of their catastrophic failure to properly diagnose his condition and offer a place of safety, only an independent inquiry can establish the facts surrounding this tragic case”.

It has emerged that Roger was not known to social services in Islington where he lived. However Islington Council’s Lead Member for Health is supporting the call for a full inquiry. This brings further pressure on the Whittington to explain why Roger Sutherland left the Whittington on the night of 5/6 February and set fire to his flat.