Latest news with #MelanieLeahy
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Colin Flatt: Footballer's daughter frustrated by inquest delay
The daughter of a former professional footballer, who died in 2021, said she was "very disappointed" that an inquest into his death had been adjourned for a further 14 Flatt - who played for Southend United, Leyton Orient and Barnet in the 1960s and 70s - died in September 2021, aged eight-day inquest into his death commenced on 9 June, but assistant coroner Tina Harrington ruled that, for legal reasons, it should be heard in front of a jury, with the soonest available date being August Taylor, daughter of Mr Flatt, told Essex Coroner's Court that "words fail me" after the adjournment was announced. 'Reluctant' decision Mr Flatt was described as "forever a Shrimper" in a tribute from the Southend United Ex-Players Association, which said that he scored eight goals in 24 appearances during the 1966-67 also walked out at Wembley in the FA Trophy for Barnet in 1972, and played for other clubs including Taylor expressed her frustration as the inquest into her father's death was delayed for more than a the assistant coroner, she asked: "Is the jury going to make a difference? I don't know. Will the outcome be different to what you would have ruled? I don't know.""It was a delay which could have been avoided."Ms Harrington told Mrs Taylor, "I can only apologise", adding that her decision to adjourn had been a "reluctant" one. Mr Flatt's partner of 20 years, Melanie Leahy, has been one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Lampard Inquiry into more than 2,000 mental health deaths in Essex between 2000 and 2012, Ms Leahy's son Matthew, 20, died while he was under the care of NHS mental health services in the inquest into Mr Flatt's death is set to resume on 17 August 2026. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
ITV News
28-04-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Lampard Inquiry: Probe into Essex mental health deaths to hear new evidence
An inquiry into the deaths of more than 2,000 people while under the care of mental health services is moving on to its latest stage. The Lampard Inquiry is looking into deaths at NHS-run children and adult inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023 and has previously heard from grieving families about the care their loved ones received. The new round of hearings, which started in London on Monday and is due to end on 15 May, will hear evidence from health and safety professionals. These include the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Health and Safety Executive. The next stage of the Lampard Inquiry is expected to attract a protest from campaigners including bereaved relatives of loved ones who died while receiving care under the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, (EPUT) and the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT). 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. The inquiry is not looking at deaths in the community unless they happened within three months of discharge from a mental health unit, the patient had been refused a bed or they were on a waiting list for a bed. Melanie Leahy, whose 20-year-old son Matthew died while under the care of the Linden Centre in Essex in November 2012, will be one of the campaigners outside the hearing on Monday. She said: "It's been years of heartbreak, unanswered questions, and fighting just to be heard, having lost two loved ones to a system that was supposed to care for them. "We cannot ignore the reality that over 2,000 deaths under Essex mental health are under investigation. That number keeps growing. "Behind every statistic is a person – a son, a daughter, a friend. This is not just numbers on a page, these are real lives that have been cut short. "This inquiry is more than a box-ticking exercise. It's a chance to bring the truth to light. Our loved ones cannot rest in peace until the truth about the mental health failings is exposed. "If the inquiry does nothing to change the poor services, people will continue to be abused, overmedicated, and die." Nina Ali, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, which represents 126 families, described the inquiry as a "pivotal moment" adding: "We must hold a mirror up to our mental health services and face the grave reality that our clients have suffered and are continuing to suffer. "We are deeply concerned that these issues are not solely exclusive to Essex." Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "As the inquiry progresses, there will be many accounts of people who were much loved and missed over the past 24 years and I want to say how sorry I am for their loss. "All of us across healthcare have a responsibility to work together to improve care and treatment for all and to build on the improvements that have already been made over the last 24 years."
ITV News
27-04-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Mental health inquiry into patient deaths to hear from health and safety execs
An inquiry into the deaths of more than 2,000 people while under the care of mental health services in Essex is to hear evidence from health and safety professionals. The Lampard Inquiry is examining deaths at NHS-run children and adult inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023 and has previously heard from grieving families about the care their loved ones received. Last year the chairwoman of the inquiry, Baroness Kate Lampard, said 'we may never know' the true number of people who died, but warned it is expected to be 'significantly in excess' of the 2,000 deaths previously reported. All the patient deaths occurred while people were under the care of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, (EPUT) and the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT). The inquiry, which has moved to Arundel House in London from Essex for the next stage of hearings, is not looking at deaths in the community unless they happened within three months of discharge from a mental health unit, the patient had been refused a bed or they were on a waiting list for a bed. For the latest stage of hearings, which runs from Monday to May 15, the inquiry will hear from organisations including the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Melanie Leahy, whose 20-year-old son Matthew died while under the care of the Linden Centre in Essex, will be joined by fellow campaigners outside the hearing on Monday. She said: 'It's been years of heartbreak, unanswered questions, and fighting just to be heard, having lost two loved ones to a system that was supposed to care for them. 'We cannot ignore the reality that over 2,000 deaths under Essex mental health are under investigation. That number keeps growing. 'Behind every statistic is a person – a son, a daughter, a friend. This is not just numbers on a page, these are real lives that have been cut short. 'This inquiry is more than a box-ticking exercise. It's a chance to bring the truth to light. Our loved ones cannot rest in peace until the truth about the mental health failings is exposed. 'If the inquiry does nothing to change the poor services, people will continue to be abused, overmedicated, and die.' Nina Ali, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, which represents 126 families, said: 'This is a pivotal moment for our clients, the enormity of which we hope is not lost on anyone who provides evidence during this section of the inquiry. 'We must hold a mirror up to our mental health services and face the grave reality that our clients have suffered and are continuing to suffer. 'We are deeply concerned that these issues are not solely exclusive to Essex. 'We are hopeful that everyone will come to the inquiry with the same aim – to expose the truth. Without full transparency, lessons can not be learned, and lives will still be lost.' Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'As the inquiry progresses, there will be many accounts of people who were much loved and missed over the past 24 years and I want to say how sorry I am for their loss. 'All of us across healthcare have a responsibility to work together to improve care and treatment for all and to build on the improvements that have already been made over the last 24 years.'
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mental health inquiry into patient deaths to hear from health and safety execs
An inquiry into the deaths of more than 2,000 people while under the care of mental health services in Essex is to hear evidence from health and safety professionals. The Lampard Inquiry is examining deaths at NHS-run children and adult inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023 and has previously heard from grieving families about the care their loved ones received. Last year the chairwoman of the inquiry, Baroness Kate Lampard, said 'we may never know' the true number of people who died, but warned it is expected to be 'significantly in excess' of the 2,000 deaths previously reported. All the patient deaths occurred while people were under the care of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, (EPUT) and the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT). The inquiry, which has moved to Arundel House in London from Essex for the next stage of hearings, is not looking at deaths in the community unless they happened within three months of discharge from a mental health unit, the patient had been refused a bed or they were on a waiting list for a bed. For the latest stage of hearings, which runs from Monday to May 15, the inquiry will hear from organisations including the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Melanie Leahy, whose 20-year-old son Matthew died while under the care of the Linden Centre in Essex, will be joined by fellow campaigners outside the hearing on Monday. She said: 'It's been years of heartbreak, unanswered questions, and fighting just to be heard, having lost two loved ones to a system that was supposed to care for them. 'We cannot ignore the reality that over 2,000 deaths under Essex mental health are under investigation. That number keeps growing. 'Behind every statistic is a person – a son, a daughter, a friend. This is not just numbers on a page, these are real lives that have been cut short. 'This inquiry is more than a box-ticking exercise. It's a chance to bring the truth to light. Our loved ones cannot rest in peace until the truth about the mental health failings is exposed. 'If the inquiry does nothing to change the poor services, people will continue to be abused, overmedicated, and die.' Nina Ali, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, which represents 126 families, said: 'This is a pivotal moment for our clients, the enormity of which we hope is not lost on anyone who provides evidence during this section of the inquiry. 'We must hold a mirror up to our mental health services and face the grave reality that our clients have suffered and are continuing to suffer. 'We are deeply concerned that these issues are not solely exclusive to Essex. 'We are hopeful that everyone will come to the inquiry with the same aim – to expose the truth. Without full transparency, lessons can not be learned, and lives will still be lost.' Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'As the inquiry progresses, there will be many accounts of people who were much loved and missed over the past 24 years and I want to say how sorry I am for their loss. 'All of us across healthcare have a responsibility to work together to improve care and treatment for all and to build on the improvements that have already been made over the last 24 years.'
