A public inquiry into failings connected with deaths of patients in Essex's mental health services heard it may be reviewing "significantly in excess" of approximately 2,000 cases already indicated.

The Lampard Inquiry opened at Chelmsford City Council offices yesterday (Monday, September 9), setting out the scope, issues and other elements at the first hearing as part of the inquiry.

The inquiry – chaired by Baroness Lampard CBE – has been set up to understand the events that led to the deaths of mental health patients across Essex during a period spanning more than two decades. It could last for up to two years and its estimated cost is £18 million.

The deaths of at least 2,000 people will be investigated by the inquiry. These people were identified as having died while on a mental health ward in Essex or within three months of being discharged from the Essex Partnership University Foundation NHS Trust (EPUT) and the North-East London Foundation Trust (NELFT).

Speaking at the hearing, Baroness Lampard said: "What I can tell you now is that the number of deaths in scope will be significantly in excess of the 2,000 that were being considered by the Inquiry during its non-statutory phase. People have waited too long for answers and, as I have already said, we need to make sure that matters that need remedying are put right urgently, to limit any further unnecessary suffering. 

"I will not be afraid to be critical or challenging in my findings or to make bold and meaningful recommendations for change. When making recommendations I will direct them to particular individuals or organisations, provide a timeframe for expected implementation and set out the way in which I would expect that implementation to be monitored. Although the Inquiry is focused on Essex, my recommendations will be made national wherever appropriate, helping to ensure improvements to mental health care across the whole country."

Nicholas Griffin, counsel to the inquiry, gave timelines for the incidents, deaths and also action taken against the mental health service trust, EPUT.

He said: "In June 2019, Rob Behrens CBE, who was then Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, published his report entitled Missed Opportunities, which found that there had been a series of significant failings in the care and treatment of two vulnerable young men who died shortly after being admitted to North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (which was subsequently subsumed into the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust). The report considered the death in 2008 of a person referred to as Mr R and the death in November 2012 of Matthew Leahy. It identified multiple failings surrounding both deaths.

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"The report also identified systemic issues at the trust, including a failure over many years to develop the learning culture necessary to prevent similar mistakes from being repeated. Mr Behrens noted that the families of both young men: '… suffer the ongoing injustice of knowing that their sons did not receive the standard of care they should have done'. This has caused them unimaginable distress. Serious failings by organisations providing mental health services can have catastrophic consequences for patients. NHS trusts must ensure timely improvements to ensure patient safety and protect patients who are at risk of taking their own life."

The first day of the inquiry was attended by various loved ones of those who died. Among them was Sam Cook, 40, from Witham who wants change after three of her loved ones died while in the care of EPUT.

She said: "I want to see a change, at the moment so many people are trying to get help and there's just not the help there. The inquiry is nerve-wracking, it's a bit overwhelming as well, I've just been trying to get my sister's voice heard.  I've lost three people because of this, so something needs to change."