“I say he was suffering with clear psychotic symptoms,” Dr Mitchell told Coroner Tanyka Rawden.
This included hearing voices and having thoughts of harming his family members.
“The issue was by the Early Intervention Team not assessing him, and the fact he had persistent psychotic episodes was missed.”
If the psychotic episodes were identified as being persistent, Andrews’ treatment may have been different, including alternative medication, Dr Mitchell said.
“He would have been offered a trial with antipsychotics. If he had taken it, it probably would have improved his outcome,” Dr Mitchell added.
When Andrews was discharged from that specific period of care on 9 May, an email that should have been sent to his GP summarising the care he received, and next steps to take, was never sent.
When asked by the coroner if Andrews had no mental health support between May and a final referral date in October, Dr Mitchell said that was correct.
