An ongoing inquiry into mental health services in Essex has said it is investigating the deaths of 1,500 people over a 21-year period who were either inpatients or individuals who died within three months of being discharged.

Dr Geraldine Strathdee, who was appointed chairwoman of the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry in January 2021, said: "at this stage, we only know the causes of death in 40% of those people" and appealed for more people to come forward.

The inquiry started in December 2021 and has taken evidence from 14 families of those who have died.

Dr Strathdee confirmed that recurring themes have emerged, including patients' physical, mental and sexual safety while on wards and variations in the quality of care provided to patients.

The Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry is the first of its kind in England. 

It follows a campaign led by Melanie Leahy, whose son Matthew died whilst a patient at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford operated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and admitted failings in the deaths of 11 patients in their care. It was fined £1.5m in June last year over the deaths between 2004 and 2015.

Despite the inquiry resulting from the campaigning of Ms Leahy, she is boycotting the investigation in response to it not being given statutory footing, which means it cannot force witnesses to testify or take evidence on oath.

Ms Leahy said: "The inquiry is futile. It doesn't even cover the community deaths. Are they not important as well?

"What about those who hadn't been an inpatient, who hadn't been discharged? Multiple people have been treated in the community and have been failed.

"We have offices in London jam-packed with evidence. We urge the minister to call for the statutory powers, and we will hand it all over."

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