Wim’s protocol: how to safely monitor clozapine

When 39-year old William (Wim) Northcott died in 2021 in his residential care home, his sister Kate began a determined search for answers. She discovered that Wim’s prescribed medication, clozapine, had materially contributed to his death. Over the next three years, Kate investigated widespread failures in clozapine monitoring, culminating in her findings being published in The Times in January 2024.
Refusing to let Wim’s death pass without meaningful change, Kate worked with the Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and collaborated closely with the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Lade Smith and her team. Together, they developed ‘Wim’s protocol’, a new approach to safer clozapine monitoring.
In this episode, you’ll hear directly from the experts behind this groundbreaking protocol. They will:
- explore the drivers and impact of preventable clozapine-related deaths
outline how carers can support loved ones who take clozapine
- introduce the key elements of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ new safety guidance, and
- discuss the future of clozapine monitoring, including potential changes to blood-test frequency.
Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not amount to, advice that you should rely on. It is not an alternative to specific, professional advice.
Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider.
Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.