The first public inquiry into mental health to be held in England is now investigating the deaths of around 2000 people.
The news comes as the inquiry chairperson described the number of responses to the inquiry from current and former staff as “hugely disappointing”. In an open letter published last month, Dr Geraldine Strathdee, chairperson of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry, said that while the inquiry has heard “remarkable and sobering evidence from many families” in the past year, the number of responses from current and former staff is “hugely disappointing”.
In the letter Dr Strathdee states: “Of the over 14,000 staff written to, we have received a small number of written comments from staff and, to date, only 11 have said they would attend an evidence session. Where we have also written directly to some of those involved in the cases of deceased patients we are investigating, one in four have responded to say they will provide evidence.
“This is inadequate to meet our terms of reference”.
An initial figure of 1500 deaths to be investigated was based on information from Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) and announced in March 2022. All of the 1500 died while they were a patient on a mental health ward in Essex, or within three months of being discharged, between 2000 and 2020. An update on this number from the trust has reported the number is actually closer to 2000 deaths.
“This is a significant increase in the number of people who have lost their lives as mental health patients – and the number of families who have suffered this grief,” said Dr Strathdee.
She added: “I am concerned that it has taken two years since this inquiry was announced to be informed about these individuals’ deaths by the Trust.”
Number of Deaths to Be Investigated by Mental Health Inquiry Rises to 2000 (medscape.co.uk)