The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins)
I am today updating Parliament that the terms of reference for the Lampard inquiry have been finalised and were published on 10 April on gov.uk under the heading “Lampard Inquiry: terms of reference”. A copy of a letter to the Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee and the terms of reference were also deposited in the Library of both Houses. Due to parliamentary recess, this statement is being made in Parliament today.
My deepest sympathies continue to go to all the families who have been affected by the tragic deaths of mental health patients across NHS trusts in Essex. Patients should feel confident, safe, and supported—especially when receiving help for their mental health, which can be a time of great vulnerability. This was not the case for many mental health inpatients in Essex between 2000 and 2023, where many patients ended up tragically and needlessly dying—leaving their bereaved families with questions that need answering. I wish to thank those families who met me while I considered the terms of reference.
The former non-statutory Essex mental health independent inquiry was converted to a statutory inquiry on 27 October 2023 and Baroness Kate Lampard was appointed as the chair of the inquiry.
The inquiry will examine:
Deaths of mental health inpatients within healthcare settings in Essex between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023;
Those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care within the independent sector, as well as those in NHS units; and
Inpatient deaths, including those who died within three months of discharge from a mental health inpatient unit.
The inquiry will look at the delivery of treatment and care, the culture and governance of NHS providers, and their interaction with other public bodies, including commissioners, coroners, professional regulators and the Care Quality Commission. Other areas which will also be considered in relation to mental health inpatient deaths include the independent sector; serious harm short of death events; and neurodiversity and learning disabilities.
The inquiry’s work will now be a matter for the chair, Baroness Lampard. The Department will continue to support the inquiry with the resources it needs to undertake its investigations.
Baroness Lampard has indicated that she does not currently intend to appoint a panel to support her in this work and I concur with this view. If necessary, the chair may appoint any assessor(s) to assist her if she considers that person has relevant expertise that would assist the inquiry.
The terms of reference will enable the inquiry to start its work in earnest and provide the answers that affected families have been seeking for so long. I am pleased that the inquiry now has a firm basis on which to proceed, and we will ensure lessons are learned and patient safety is improved. Baroness Lampard and her team will undertake the inquiry thoroughly and as swiftly as possible.
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