MYSTERY still surrounds an apparent breakdown in mental health communication in double deaths at Christmas.

At the recent inquest into the deaths of Donella Schofield and Steven Rankin it was revealed an urgent psychiatric assessment for Steven Rankin was cancelled 10 weeks before he killed her.

He strangled her at their home in Wellfield Street then took an overdose on Christmas Eve.

He should have been seen by a psychiatrist at Hollins Park on October 20 after he told his GP he was thinking about harming her.

Mr Rankin, who had previously been diagnosed as having a personality disorder, cancelled the appointment but the message apparently never got through to the GP's surgery so another appointment could be arranged.

A doctor from the surgery told the inquest no cancellation letter was received.

The police had obtained a cancellation letter during the investigation of the deaths. But the Hollins Park psychiatrist said he had never seen it either. He would not have been responsible for handling the cancellation.

The Warrington Guardian asked the 5 Boroughs Partnership mental health trust specific questions about the letter and procedure.

The trust responded with a statement.

It said: "Following the incident, the trust undertook an internal review, as it does with all serious events, the outcome of which confirmed that procedures were carried out according to guidelines and accepted practices.

"We were very saddened by this incident, which could not have been foreseen, but we believe there are always lessons to be learned from tragic circumstances and will consider these as part of the outcome of the review. Following this, any indication that systems and processes need to be changed they will be addressed."

ANOTHER double death is disturbingly similar to the Donella Schofield and Steven Rankin tragedy.

Christopher Watts strangled Eunice Watts at the couple's home before Christmas 1999 then committed suicide with an overdose from stockpiled pills.

Mr Watts also had a history of drug and alcohol abuse that he appeared to have gotten over, like Mr Rankin, and was also prone to making threats though he had no history of violence like Mr Rankin.

Both couples were treated for mental illness though the Watts had more serious problems than either Donella Schofield or Steven Rankin, and were both schizophrenics.

A public inquiry was launched after Mr Watts' deaths at Palacefields in Runcorn and 28 recommendations were passed to the 5 Boroughs Partnership, which took over from the previous mental health body. The inquiry found nobody was to blame.

One recommendation was relevant to the Warrington case.

Recommendation 16 said in cases of serious risk, where two people in a relationship are being treated, the trust should modify its view' of client confidentiality and meetings between health professionals.

This issue of client confidentiality was raised by Donella Schofield's former employer at the inquest, solicitor John Benasko, who questioned whether Donella Schofield should have been told Steven Rankin was thinking of harming her.