Calls for a public inquiry into mental health inpatient facilities in Essex began after the deaths of two young men at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford.
Bereaved families outside the inquiry in Chelmsford. Pic: PA
The deaths of more than 2,000 people at mental health units in Essex are being investigated by a new inquiry.
Baroness Kate Lampard CBE will hear evidence from former patients, bereaved families, experts, and staff about deaths that occurred at inpatient facilities in the county – and within three months of discharge – between 2000 and 2023.
What is the scope of the inquiry?
The Lampard Inquiry has statutory status, which means those called to give evidence are legally obliged to appear. Not doing so is a criminal offence.
A previous attempt in 2021 – the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry – did not have statutory powers and was abandoned after only 11 members of staff agreed to give evidence of the 14,000 contacted.
In her opening statements, Baroness Lampard said “we may never have a definitive number of deaths” and although 2,000 were considered for investigation by the 2021 probe, the true figure will likely “be significantly in excess” of that.
It will look at the deaths of inpatients at the Essex Partnership University Foundation NHS Trust (EPUT), North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), and organisations that existed previously in those areas.
People who died within three months of discharge from one of the units, who were refused, or waiting for a bed also fall under the inquiry’s remit.
Deaths that occurred while patients were receiving NHS care in the private sector are also included.
What happened in Essex?
The mothers of two young men who died at mental health units in Essex have long campaigned for justice and led calls for a public inquiry.
Lisa Morris’s son Ben died aged 20 in 2008 while he was an inpatient at the Linden Centre, previously run by the North Essex Partnership NHS Trust (NEP) – but now managed by EPUT.
He had a diagnosis of ADHD and took his own life 20 days after he arrived at the unit in Chelmsford. Ms Morris says he called her 30 minutes before he was found dead saying he wanted to leave. In 2011, an inquest found he died by suicide.
Matthew Leahy also died at the Linden Centre at the age of 20.
He had been sectioned and detained under the Mental Health Act and was under the care of the Early Intervention in Psychosis team when he died in November 2012.
His mother Melanie Leahy claims he called his father to say he had been raped days before he was found dead. Police were called but no crimes were recorded.