Latest news with #LampardInquiry
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Photojournalist Ed Gold says mental health project was toughest
A photojournalist who had witnessed war in Afghanistan said a new project focused on mental health was his toughest Gold interviewed 30 people living across Essex to build a picture of what life was like battling mental health hoped the six-week project would benefit the Lampard Inquiry, which is analysing 2,000 deaths at NHS inpatient units."I want people to know that there are others who care, who see them and are giving them a voice," Mr Gold said. He became aware of how many people struggled with their mental health while speaking with baristas at a cafe in Colchester in winter 2024."The more I spoke with all of them, the more I was taken aback," said the self-taught photographer, who published the images in his Positive Futures magazine. "I never realised just how many people were struggling with their mental health, taking antidepressants and seeing therapists." Mr Gold hoped empowering people to speak about their difficulties in real time would give others a greater Lampard Inquiry has been looking at deaths in Essex, but the photographer said lessons should be learned before people interviews focused on 15 men and 15 women, aged 13-39, and took place in Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea and Braintree."I was moved to tears once or twice from various stories; it's probably been the toughest project I've ever taken on," said Mr Gold, who has also taken photos in Ukraine."It also gave me a huge frustration because I found so many people were being let down." He explained one interview left him feeling obliged to take the person to hospital, such were his concerns about their welfare."I became angry and frustrated at people not being given the help they need," Mr Gold said."They were in tears and total despair, but not getting anywhere at all." Mr Gold said that while he hoped his work would inspire conversation, he feared radical improvements in mental health care were far added: "I almost feel like it's a never-ending project, I just can't see how it will ever end."If you have been affected by this story or would like support then you can find organisations that offer help and information at the BBC Action Line. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Lampard Inquiry: What has happened so far?
Eight months into its 25-month timeline, the Lampard Inquiry is beginning to expose deep-rooted issues in NHS mental health services in Essex. With more than 2,000 deaths in inpatient units between 2000 and the end of 2023, the inquiry is examining not only local failings but also whether these reflect wider national problems. Here is what has emerged so far. A system under scrutiny The inquiry is named after its chairwoman, Baroness Kate is a former barrister who oversaw the NHS investigations into abuse by former television presenter Jimmy is primarily focused on Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), formed in 2017 from the merger of North and South Essex Partnership Trusts. It is also looking at the deaths of patients from Essex at inpatient units run by private providers and 215 facilities run by other NHS organisations, such as North East London NHS Foundation former health ombudsman Sir Rob Behrens said on average, 5% of all mental health cases received by his team between 2011 and 2023 were related to called the failures in care "the National Health Service at its worst".During testimony from the relatives and friends of those who died, it emerged that they were individuals from a range of backgrounds, including a chef, bus driver, heating engineer, former head teacher, and parish councillor. Lack of staff The inquiry has heard evidence of a long-term reduction in registered mental health nurses, with increased reliance on healthcare support workers across England. This shift has been linked to reduced patient engagement and increased chief nurse Maria Nelligan told the inquiry this was because healthcare support workers were "cheaper" and said the shift compromised therapeutic Paul Davidson, a consultant psychiatrist, described how staff across England were "rushed off their feet," contributing to a workplace culture where professionals feared being blamed "whatever decision they took". Paul Scott, chief executive of EPUT, stated the trust had reduced its use of agency staff by 30%. Poor data The inquiry has also highlighted issues with data collection and transparency. Deborah Cole, from the charity Inquest, described how there was no "complete set of statistics in relation to those who die in mental health detention". Dr Davidson added: "There is good information in relation to deaths by suicide, [but] this is not a helpful tool by which to assess how mental services are being provided overall."Baroness Lampard has warned that the inquiry may never uncover the full scale of deaths linked to failings in Essex mental health stated that while a figure would be published, it was likely to be approximate, due to incomplete or inconsistent data over the 24-year period under review Regulating trusts The inquiry has examined the complexity of the regulatory system overseeing NHS trusts. Mr Scott described being "overwhelmed" by the number of regulatory bodies -19 in total - each issuing recommendations. This, he said, made it difficult to implement consistent from the inquiry, in October 2024, the health secretary stated that the government intended to reform the regulatory was in response to a review of the way the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected trusts, called the Penny Dash Review, which said the framework was too Lampard Inquiry will consider the CQC's role in relation to events in Essex. Analysis Three systemic issues raised by the inquiry - staff shortages, poor data, and regulatory complexity - have been longstanding concerns. The Royal College of Nursing, the CQC and a 2023 Public Accounts Committee report all flagged staffing shortages and burnout. A 2023 review found Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust had lost track of patient death data, while a 2025 Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) report called for a unified national dataset. Regulatory reform is also under way following multiple critical reviews. While Baroness Lampard is expected to reference these reports, the inquiry is also under pressure to uncover new families have expressed concern regarding its pace, and limited focus so far on cultural have also noted that safeguarding issues, such as patients absconding from units, have received little attention - a relevant issue given a recent inquest into the death of an 18-year-old who died while on escorted leave from an EPUT unit. Transparency and whistleblowing Only 11 out of 14,000 staff came forward during the earlier non-statutory phase of the inquiry. Baroness Lampard has said she will use statutory powers to compel evidence if necessary. Mr Scott acknowledged that "closed cultures" existed at EPUT but said the trust was encouraging openness. During a recent inquest into the death of a 16-year-old patient, a manager testified that staff were reluctant to raise safety concerns. Brian O'Donnell, clinical lead at the St Aubyn Centre in Colchester, said there was a "real concern about safety on the wards, and staff are too worried to say anything about it".Families have also raised concerns about delays in evidence disclosure, including a postponed inquiry session on a Oxevision, an infrared monitoring system, due to late submission of information by Baroness Lampard said her decision to delay the hearing "should not be viewed in any way as enabling EPUT to avoid answering questions about its use of Oxevision". What comes next? In July, the inquiry will focus on the two former trusts that merged to form EPUT. Mr Scott has said, when he arrived at the trust in 2000, the legacy of the merger was that "there was too much focus on governance and management and not enough on patient safety".Families are calling for detailed scrutiny of individual deaths, but the inquiry is more likely to use selected cases to illustrate broader systemic issues such as governance, and Scott has apologised for deaths under the trust's care and stated that he believes EPUT should remain the provider of mental health services in Essex. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
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 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 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 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 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 Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
EPUT chief tells Lampard Inquiry that deaths are 'heartbreaking'
The chief executive of a trust at the centre of England's first public inquiry into mental health said the testimonies of bereaved relatives had been "brave, powerful and heartbreaking".The Lampard Inquiry is looking into the deaths of 2,000 people in mental health units in Essex between 2000 and Scott, from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said what relatives said had "deeply affected" and "motivated" him to make a of those who have died said they wanted the inquiry to be a chance for lasting change. Giving evidence at the hearing in London, Mr Scott said: "I'd like to offer an apology and condolences to all families who have lost loved ones under the care of Essex mental health."He said hearing testimonies during the inquiry, which also had sessions in September and November, had moved him."They've been brave, powerful and heartbreaking," said Mr Scott, who became chief executive in 2020."These have deeply affected me and motivated me to make a real difference and I'm sorry for their enduring pain."Since joining the organisation I have given everything I have to try and improve safety and I will continue to do so." EPUT was fined £1.5m in 2021 for safety failings over the deaths of 11 Scott said facing families in court was one of the "most profound days of my life".He said it was "shocking to listen to very powerful testimonies of families in the courtroom, how they'd been failed, the impact it had on them"."The responsibility I felt to address that was very powerful with me," he Mr Scott said he felt "overwhelmed by the number of regulators" overseeing the trust after it was fined by the Health and Safety claimed at one point there were thousands of recommendations to implement from 19 to the inquiry, Nicholas Griffin KC, called it a "crowded and confused regulatory landscape". 'More to do' During the hearings, families have accused EPUT of complacency and being defensive over Mr Scott argued that was "far from the case" and stressed the deaths were always on the minds of said he understood families felt things had not changed and admitted there was "a lot more to do".Asked what had caused issues for the trust, Mr Scott blamed low staff said key financial decisions needed to be made to dictate the future of mental healthcare. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
ITV News
15-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Lampard Inquiry: Essex mental health trust boss 'sorry' over 'heartbreaking' failings to families
The chief executive of a mental health trust has admitted at an inquiry that listening to accounts from bereaved families was "extremely sobering and shocking", as he offered an apology. Paul Scott, chief executive officer of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), defended the organisation at the Lampard Inquiry on Thursday and said it should continue to deliver mental health services. The Lampard Inquiry is examining the deaths of more than 2,000 people at NHS-run inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023. It includes those who died within three months of discharge, and those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care in the independent sector. At a hearing in London, he said: 'I'd like to offer an apology and condolences to all families who have lost loved ones under the care of Essex mental health. 'I have listened when I first joined, I've met many families, at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution (which saw the trust fined £1.5 million), I was in the court for that and I've heard testimonies through this inquiry as well. 'They've been brave, powerful and heartbreaking. 'These have deeply affected me and motivated me to make a real difference and I'm sorry for their enduring pain. 'Since joining the organisation I have given everything I have to try and improve safety and I will continue to do so.' Mr Scott became chief executive of EPUT in 2020 and described the HSE prosecution as 'extremely sobering and shocking to listen to very powerful testimonies of families in the courtroom, how they'd been failed, the impact it had on them'. 'The responsibility I felt to address that was very powerful with me,' he said. 'I still remember that every day, that day is probably one of the most profound days of my life.' Mr Scott referred to an opening statement that a barrister for EPUT gave in September last year 'where we were very clear about accepting the failings of the past'. He said: 'We admitted to failings around ligature points and other environmental risks; staff members' culture and conduct; sexual and physical abuse; absconding; discharge and assessment of patients; involvement of family and friends and staff engagement with investigations.' EPUT was formed in 2017 following a merger of the former North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Nicholas Griffin KC, counsel to the inquiry, asked Mr Scott if 'financial pressures have adversely impacted patient safety since the merger.' Mr Scott said: 'Since I've joined there has been no financial constraints on our inpatient wards – the constraint is the supply of staff. 'I think prior to that there was very strict financial control, now whether you call that financial constraint or not… 'My view was we should have been investing more earlier.' Thursday's hearing marked the conclusion of an "introductory" three-week session before the next public hearings of the inquiry in July, which will focus on 'those who died while under the care of EPUT's predecessor trusts'. Some families have been left dissatisfied by the hearings so far, according to Hodge Jones & Allen solicitors, which is representing 126 families. Priya Singh, from Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, said: "I think a lot of the evidence given today is not going to mirror our families' experiences which happened whilst their loved ones were alive and when they passed away, so I think they're going to struggle with the evidence they heard today." Ralph Taylor's wife Carol died in 2023 after being admitted to the mental health unit at St Margaret's Hospital in Epping. Mr Taylor said: "I think there's a failure of culture, I really don't know what you do about it, but I don't think EPUT is the right organisation to do it because of the experience of families. "They've failed to look after so many patients in the past, how can you be confident they'll do that in the future? "I can't bring her back but if we can save at least one life by virtue of them changing how they treat people it's worth it." During the inquiry opening in Chelmsford last year, the chairwoman of the inquiry, Baroness Kate Lampard CBE, said "we may never know" the true number of people who died. But she warned it is expected to be "significantly in excess" of the 2,000 deaths previously reported.
