HEALTH bosses and police say they have responded to a coroner's recommendations to prevent future deaths after a mentally ill hacked his mother and sister to death.

John Jenkin, 25, killed the pair two just 48 hours after he was released from a mental health unit following a suicide bid.

Alice McMeekin, 58, and student Katie Jenkin, 20, were killed at the family home in Newton Street, Millom on June 8, 2013.

Senior coroner David Roberts said that unless changes were made there was a risk of future deaths.

Two days before Jenkin launched his fatal attack on his mother and sister, he had been treated at the Dane Garth at Furness General Hospital, after he took a cocktail of LSD, cannabis, whisky and painkillers before he tried to drown himself in a river and then slash his wrists.

Jenkin also told a witness repeatedly at the suicide bid scene that he wanted to kill his mother which was passed onto police but went no further.

Following a 90-minute examination by a psychiatric nurse who considered Jenkin’s risk to others was “low”, he was released from hospital. Two days later, he killed his mother, sister and the family dog.

Jenkin pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court in March last year to two counts of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. He was sentenced to life and must serve a minimum term of 13 years and four months.

A domestic homicide review, which is separate to the inquests, will be published later this year.

After the inquests in May this year, coroner Mr Roberts issued a Regulation 28 to the chief constable Jerry Graham and Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It said: "During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving ride to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.

"Action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisations have the power to take such action.

"The chief constable should examine the mechanism of passing information to other agencies - in particular the ambulance service so that issues of confidentiality do not impede the protection of life. Also to review the forensic psychiatric services available to police.

"CPFT should examine its system of first contact assessment in respect of unknown patients presenting in crisis, and what steps might be taken to guard against low frequency, high impact events. There should also be a review of single nurse assessment in such circumstances and the risk assessment tools used in such process."

The Trust said: "We are responding to the coroner's recommendations and can confirm that we have taken forward learning from this tragic case which we shared at the inquest."

Cumbria Police said: "The constabulary has reviewed the issues raised by the coroner and responded to the letter, however further correspondence is currently taking place to clarify some of the concerns raised. It would be inappropriate to comment further until this process is completed."