Inquiry into 2,000 deaths may expand scope due to ‘ongoing concerns’

Kate Lampard, who previously led NHS investigations into Jimmy Savile, took over as chair of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry this month.

The inquiry is already currently looking into the deaths of around 2,000 patients treated by the Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust over a 20-year period up until 2020. 

But Baroness Lampard told media she was “minded” for the inquiry to cover more recent cases to ensure confidence in local services.

She is now considering expanding the inquiry’s scope until the end of this year, as well as to look at NHS patients treated in the private sector, she said.

She used a media briefing on Wednesday to launch a public consultation about a new terms of reference for the inquiry.

In an interview with HSJ  after the briefing, Baroness Lampard said: “Some of the evidence that has been gathered so far suggests people have concerns – ongoing concerns – about the quality of care that relations or they themselves have received.”

“Clearly if there are matters of concern, we will need to identify them in order to ensure we make recommendations that rectify them.

“Obviously one of the aims of the investigations is to ensure people can have confidence in mental health services in Essex. That does require making sure recommendations and findings are current and up to date.”

Baroness Lampard’s comments follow the inquiry recently being given powers to compel people to give evidence, following a long-running campaign from families and concerns over a lack of staff coming forward from its previous chair.

She said it was not yet clear how many more deaths would be covered by this expanded scope. 

HSJ  revealed earlier this year how EPUFT chief executive Paul Scott has questioned the validity of the current headline figure of 2,000 deaths in the review. 

The trust has faced scrutiny over an undercover Channel 4 investigation last year and was also warned by the Care Quality Commission following a visit shortly after.

A public inquiry into the deaths was launched in 2021. This was led by Geraldine Strathdee, who said she feared it would not fulfil its purpose without extra powers due to few staff coming forward.

However, Dr Strathdee stood down from her role when the inquiry became statutory this year for health reasons. 

Asked about the inquiry already having run for years, Baroness Lampard said: “I wouldn’t want to suggest there has been a waste of time over the last couple of years. Quite a lot of work has been done, and we will use that work and build on it in the statutory inquiry.

“But I can imagine that for some of the families there is a sense of frustration and we need to have answers. I am conscious of that and we will work at pace to make sure people get the answers they want.”

EPUFT said in a statement: “We welcome the progress of the inquiry and will do all we can to work with Baroness Lampard and her team to deliver on their terms of reference so that patients, families and carers get the answers they deserve.”