HOSPITAL chiefs today apologised over the case of East Lancashire wife Hazel Horner who was strangled by her mentally-ill husband Michael, who then hanged himself, the day after he was discharged without warning from an acute psychiatric ward.

But are they really enough?

For this was a tragedy caused not just by error and disregarded warnings that, as an inquiry report states today, probably cost Mrs Horner her life.

It was also one met with an appallingly callous response and delay that may have prevented her life from being saved.

For consider the circumstances.

Michael Horner was a man suffering from deep "reactive" repression.

He had made two previous suicide attempts.

He had subjected his wife to violence for years.

And the extent of his psychological problems and behaviour had been spelled out by his daughters to staff at the mental illness unit at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, where he was admitted.

Yet, after three weeks of treatment, he was discharged without Mrs Horner or his family being told, just as she was planning to leave the family home in Lower Darwen after years of suffering her husband's jealousy, violent mood swings and beatings. The following day Mr Horner killed her - and then rang the hospital to say what he had done.

Yet, amazingly and shockingly - and, certainly, irresponsibly - there was a delay of at least 30 minutes before the police and ambulance service were told.

By the time they arrived, Michael Horner had hanged himself.

Why, in the first place, was no-one told of his discharge from hospital?

Might Mrs Horner still be alive if she had been?

Might she have been saved if the emergency services had been told sooner?

These are questions for which apologies are a poor response?

For have those responsible for this catalogue of error and callousness been called to account or merely criticised?

It may well be that the hospital authorities have reacted correctly in ordering an independent inquiry, in publishing its findings and accepting its 14-point plan to improve procedures at the unit.

But if lessons are to be learned to the full, ought not examples to be made of those to blame in such a disturbing case - especially when their errors are underwritten by two needless deaths?

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