Goodmayes Hospital Mental Health Facility

Lord Kamall Excerpts

Thursday 13th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The Mental Health Bill, which is, I hope, within touching distance of Royal Assent, is absolutely crucial. It is a reform of an Act which was 41 years old; it will undoubtedly be crucial. I am grateful to many noble Lords for their participation in getting us to the right place. It will deliver on our government commitment to modernise the legislation. I hope my noble friend is aware that implementation is absolutely key, but there are rightly a number of points within the Bill—which I hope will become an Act—which will take effect only when services are in the right place. It would be wrong to do so without it.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

My Lords, the incident at Goodmayes Hospital, and others raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Berger, such as the tragic case of Kate Szymankiewicz after her daughter’s death at Huntercombe Hospital in 2022, all raise profound concerns about the treatment of vulnerable patients. Families have described the care that their loved ones received as cruel and more akin to the treatment of prisoners than that of patients. The Minister has spoken of guidance, regulation and new models. Given all these concerns in hospitals such as Goodmayes and Huntercombehlh, I ask the Minister: what conversations is the department having with trusts and ICBs to instil a culture where patients are treated with compassion and dignity and, where it is safe, patients have proper access to their families?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

That is absolutely at the core. I will just say, as an example on this particular tragic case, that NHS England still meets regularly with the trust, and the last meeting took place two weeks ago—it conducted a mid-year review. There is also a recommendation for a memorandum of understanding on investigating healthcare incidents where there is suspected criminal activity, which is something we have really got to consider. That will mean that there can be action following incidents such as this, where there is reasonable suspicion. Again, having a handle on it, monitoring it, keeping accountability and having the guidance are key to prevention as well as improvement after these terrible and tragic events.