An extensive Essex mental health inquiry into the deaths of thousands of patients is set to recommence with three weeks of public hearings starting on 28 April 2025. The investigation, known as the Lampard Inquiry and chaired by Baroness Lampard, focuses on the deaths of “at least” 2,000 patients who died under the care of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT). Baroness Lampard indicated during the Inquiry’s sessions in September that the actual number of deaths could be “significantly more” than the initial figure.

The inquiry’s scope reaches beyond Essex, according to Melanie Leahy, the lead campaigner who is seeking justice for her son and other families affected. Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Ms Leahy asserted, “This is about finding out the truth, saving lives and trying to help other families.” Her son, Matthew, tragically died in April 2012, just seven days after being admitted to the Linden Centre in Broomfield. Matthew was 20 years old and was receiving care from the Early Intervention in Psychosis team, which was operated by one of EPUT’s predecessor organisations, the North Essex Partnership NHS Trust (NEP).

Matthew had reported being raped while at the unit days before his death, but a police investigation following this claim resulted in no further action. Concerningly, subsequent examinations revealed that the trust’s own policies were not followed by staff, including the falsification of Matthew’s care plan. Ms Leahy described the ordeal, saying, “I was just a mum, my son was clearly not well, and he had asked for help. I struggled to get that help. When you’re a parent struggling, you cry out for help… When Matthew died, I started to fight to find out what happened because within three weeks of him dying, I knew that paperwork wasn’t right. It came to light that paperwork had been falsified, paperwork had been destroyed and I had been lied to.”

A 2020 ombudsman’s report criticised the North Essex Partnership NHS Trust for failing to adequately allocate a key worker to Matthew. It further highlighted deficiencies in providing an effective care plan, inconsistent engagement, poor management of observations, and insufficient attention to his physical health.

Ms Leahy expressed hope that the Lampard Inquiry’s statutory status, granted on 27 October 2023, will allow it to access documents she has been unable to see. Reflecting on her relentless campaign, she said, “I went on a journey like any parent would. You fight for your child. You fight when they’re alive. And when they die you fight even harder because you want to know why and who was responsible… 13 years on, that’s where I’m at.”

Despite facing personal hardship—including ridicule, threats to her own life, and pressure to stop her campaign—Ms Leahy remains resolute. She recounted, “Days that I think I’ll just stop and give up, you hear another death. Only a few days ago, it seems that we’ve lost another young patient.” She described the campaign in her son’s name as broader than just one tragedy: “This is Matthew’s campaign. He was a caring soul. He wanted to help other people. That’s just the journey I’m on now and it’s become bigger than just Matthew.”

The inquiry will also scrutinise the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), which provides child and adolescent mental health services in parts of Essex. NELFT issued a statement affirming their commitment to cooperation with the inquiry and prioritising patient safety. They said, “We will continue to work with the inquiry to help families understand the circumstances surrounding the loss of their loved ones. Patient safety is our absolute priority and we are committed to learning from the work of the inquiry.”

The Lampard Inquiry’s public hearings mark a significant step in examining systemic issues surrounding mental health care in Essex and its impact on vulnerable patients. Further updates will be made available through various news outlets, including Greatest Hits Radio.

Source: Noah Wire Services