Inquiry into Essex mental health deaths on 'troubling path'
A lawyer representing more than 120 bereaved families at a mental health public inquiry has warned the hearing is in danger of heading "down a troubling path".The Lampard Inquiry is looking into the deaths of more than 2,000 people under mental health services in Essex between 2000 and 2023.Nina Ali, partner at Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors, said some of the evidence during May's hearings in central London had left their clients "with an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction".Baroness Lampard, in the chair for the inquiry, said she was "profoundly conscious" of the disappointment felt by some of the core participants.
'Blatant disregard'
The majority of mental health services in Essex are now run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).The trust was due to give evidence at the inquiry on Wednesday relating to its use of Oxevision – a monitoring and alert system used on some of its wards and units to make sure patients are not harming themselves.A late submission of evidence by EPUT, which contained substantial changes to its previous position, was described as "highly unsatisfactory" by the inquiry's chief counsel and a decision was taken to postpone the hearing.Baroness Lampard said she was "extremely dissatisfied" with EPUT, which apologised afterwards for not sharing details sooner."EPUT's late submission of the Oxevision evidence - despite being aware of the deadlines - shows a blatant disregard for the families," Ms Ali said."We are concerned that if this behaviour is tolerated, it will send the inquiry down a troubling path."
Melanie Leahy campaigned for more than a decade for a public inquiry following the death of her 20-year-old son Matthew in 2012 at the Linden Centre mental health unit in Chelmsford."Baroness Lampard has vowed to 'seek out' the truth during this inquiry but I fear history will repeat itself and she will come up against the various brick walls I have over the last 13 years of campaigning for the truth," she said."I sincerely hope this is not the case."EPUT's decision to submit evidence late… is not behaviour that shocks me."The total disregard for the families, who should always be at the heart of this inquiry, is indicative of how we have been treated by the trust for over a decade."
'Cover-up' fears
Sally Mizon - whose husband Mark Tyler died in 2012 - said she was "extremely disappointed" with the level of progress of the Lampard Inquiry so far.Mr Tyler shot his mother and then himself in Crays Hill near Basildon in September 2012. An inquest into his death heard he had attended a mental health assessment just weeks earlier, and that he had been "repeatedly ignored and let down by the system he consistently asked for help from"."I hope the next stage of the inquiry will quash my fears of a cover-up and demonstrate that it is a collaborative investigation which proves a clear desire to keep us - the families - at the heart of the process," Ms Mizon said.
Addressing the inquiry on Monday, Baroness Lampard said she was "profoundly conscious that some core participants may be disappointed with the decision I have made to postpone hearing evidence in relation to Oxevision"."My decision… should not be viewed in any way as enabling EPUT to avoid answering questions about its use of Oxevision or to evade responsibility - quite the reverse," she added."I wish to make it clear that I am extremely dissatisfied with EPUT's late submission of evidence. I have said previously, and I repeat, that I will not hesitate to use my statutory powers to compel evidence should this be required."
Apology
A spokesperson for EPUT confirmed to the BBC that its new standard operating procedure regarding the use of Oxevision came into effect on 7 May."We have to react to changing guidance around many areas of the delivery of care and have been reviewing our operating procedure for the use of Oxevision remote monitoring technology following new NHS guidance which was released in February 2025," the spokesperson said."The review has been completed and the new standard operating procedure is now in place."We apologise to Baroness Lampard and anyone impacted that we didn't share details of changes sooner."The trust's chief executive Paul Scott has apologised for deaths under his trust's care.Giving evidence to the inquiry, Mr Scott said the testimonies of bereaved relatives had been "brave, powerful and heartbreaking".The next evidence sessions at the inquiry are due to be held in July at Arundel House
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