What have families told the Lampard Inquiry into mental health deaths?

England's first public inquiry into mental health-related deaths has heard two weeks of evidence from bereaved families and friends about how their loved ones were treated.

The Lampard Inquiry, being held at Arundel House in London, is looking into more than 2,000 deaths in Essex from 2000 to 2023.

Over the last fortnight, a dozen people have taken the stand to speak of their family member's or friend's interactions with mental health services.

They have shared details of admissions, communication, medication and other aspects of the treatment.

What is the Lampard Inquiry?

It began in September 2024, and Baroness Lampard, who is chairing it, is due to publish her final report and recommendations in mid-2028.

It aims to understand what happened to patients who died at child and adult inpatient units, focusing on the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and the North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), along with organisations that existed previously.

The inquiry is split into different themes, including physical and sexual safety in mental health inpatient units, patient assessments under the Mental Health Act, how medication is managed and balanced and the communication with patients' families.

It has now heard from about 100 bereaved families.

Who gave evidence in the latest sessions?

Twelve families and friends gave evidence about the deaths of their loved ones during two weeks of hearings from 2 to 16 February.

They included Lisa Morris, who told the inquiry she believed her son Ben might have been strangled to death rather than taking his own life.

The 20-year-old was found dead in his room at the Linden Centre, Chelmsford, in December 2008, where he had been an inpatient for three weeks.

Lisa Morris and fellow bereaved mother Melanie Leahy were instrumental in pushing for the full judge-led public inquiry.

On 4 February, Stuart Ringer gave evidence about his friend Gosia Nowak, who died in 2019 less than 24 hours after an NHS appointment, claiming she was treated like a "box-ticking" exercise by mental health services.

She told the hearing her sister was left "defeated" and had "so little fight left" before she took her own life - after being discharged from hospital and mental health services too early on multiple occasions.

There will be some pre-recorded evidence sessions from bereaved families and others in April, followed by sessions in July and October looking at topics including assessments, admissions, sexual safety, ward safety and police involvement.

In a statement issued last month, Baroness Lampard said a public evidence session - due to run from 20 April to 7 May - had been cancelled, and would instead be used for the pre-recorded evidence sessions.

Baroness Lampard said there had been "some delay" in receiving material - such as witness statements and documents - from EPUT, as well as others.

"Unfortunately, such delays have impacted the ability of the inquiry to progress investigations and other work as quickly as I would like," she said.

Maya Sikand KC, speaking for families represented by three law firms, said there were "urgent concerns" and described facing "a wall of silence" from the inquiry team.

"Without a robust and urgent roadmap, there is a real risk this inquiry will not be able to fulfil its statutory objectives in the allotted time," she warned.

In an earlier statement to the inquiry, EPUT apologised to everyone failed by mental health services in Essex.

EPUT Chief Executive Paul Scott said: "We will continue to do all we can to support Baroness Lampard and her team to provide the answers that patients, families and carers are seeking."

The hearings will continue next year with closing statements expected in June 2027.