HEALTH bosses today expressed their sorrow over the case of a psychiatric patient they were treating who killed a teenage friend.

And they pledged to learn the lessons from the case after the results of an independent inquiry into the care of Mark Harrington were published today.

Anthony Rigby, 18, of Swift Close, Larkhill, died from a single gunshot wound to the head in January 2002 at the hands of Harrington.

Harrington, of St James Road, Blackburn, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, had been suffering severe mental illness and was receiving treatment at Queen's Park Hospital's psychiatric unit as an out-patient for a number of years.

He was detained indefinitely in a mental unit after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibilities at Preston Crown Court.

The inquiry was commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust because Harrington had been receiving specialist mental health care up to and at the time of the shooting.

The report sets out 29 recommendations for change, which will improve the care of mental health patients and reduce the possibility of anything similar happening again.

The recommendations cover communications and liaison within and between services, policies and procedures at all stages of care from pre-admission through to admission and on to arrangements for discharge, as well as reviews of staffing levels, staff training, service provision and management arrangements.

Welcoming the inquiry report, Vivien Aspey, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen PCT, said: "We are very sorry that this tragedy has happened and we sympathise with both families concerned - the Rigbys and the Harringtons - who have been so badly affected.

"The report of the independent inquiry, which we are making public today, has given us the opportunity to consider, in depth, all aspects of the care Mark Harrington received.

"The report makes clear where improvements in services are required and the recommendations put forward will enable us to make valuable improvements to mental health services in East Lancashire.

"A detailed action plan to take forward the Inquiry recommendations has been drawn up and, as a commissioner of specialist services, the PCT will be working in partnership with the care providers to fully implement the 29 recommendations for change across all stages of care and treatment.

"Together we will set up systems to ensure that the necessary changes are put in place and the partnership will closely monitor progress over the coming months. It is absolutely essential that we learn all we can from this tragic event and do all we can to reduce the possibility of similar events happening again.

"The report sets out comprehensive recommendations for change and a promising start to put them in place has already been made by the joint care providers - Blackburn with Darwen Social Services and Lancashire Care NHS Trust."

Lancashire Care Trust chief executive, Finlay Robertson, said: "I would like to express our sorrow to the families and friends who have suffered as a result of this tragedy.

"The events covered by the inquiry occurred before Lancashire Care NHS Trust was created but we must accept full responsibility for putting things right and offering all the support we can to the families involved."

Stephen Sloss, director of social services at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "This was a tragic event and we are very sorry that it happened. We are determined that lessons will be learned and we will work with all the organisations involved to prevent incidents like this in the future."