Streeting confirms public inquiry into NHS trust

21 hours ago 4

Stuart Whincup,in Darlingtonand

Federica Bedendo,North East and Cumbria

Family handouts A composite image showing the faces of Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore. Miss Harness has shoulder-length auburn hair and blue eyes. She is smiling at the camera. Miss Sharif has long dark hair and brown eyes. She is looking at the camera, posing with a neutral expression. Miss Moore has long light brown hair with a side parting and brown eyes. She smiles at the camera.

Grieving families campaigning for a public inquiry after claiming their loved ones received ''chaotic and appalling" mental health care are due to meet with the health secretary.

They include the families of Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, who were treated at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, where they died by suicide both aged 17. Emily Moore, 18, also took her own life after being treated there.

Their deaths were ''preventable tragedies'', the families said, and they have spent years campaigning for an inquiry into the NHS trust responsible for the facility.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust declined to comment. It previously said changes at the trust were showing a positive impact.

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In 2022 an independent inquiry found three young women had died after a catalogue of failures at the ''unstable'' and ''overstretched'' mental health hospital.

The trust apologised and was ordered to pay £215,000 for safety failings which contributed to Miss Harnett's and another unnamed patient's deaths.

Michael Harnett, stepfather of Christie Harnett. He is standing on a pavement, next to a green-painted building. He has short brown and grey hair and blue eyes. He is wearing a green polo shirt under a navy jumper and dark coat. He is looking in the distance. The background is blurred.

The families are due to meet with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to call for changes.

Miss Harnett's stepfather Michael Harnett, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said he repeatedly complained to the trust about West Lane but nothing changed.

"It was horrendous, every patient seemed to be self-harming. There'd be patients walking around covered in blood," he said.

"Why was it allowed to get that bad and why has it been allowed to carry on since?"

He said he feared without answers, more people would die.

Family handout Emily Moore smiling at the camera. She has light brown hair.

Miss Moore took her own life in February 2020 while she was an inpatient at Lanchester Road mental health hospital in Durham.

Her father David said campaigning for a public inquiry was what kept him going.

"She deserves it and I want to make sure it doesn't happen to any other families.''

The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust is one of the largest foundation trusts in the country, serving a population of around two million people across County Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire.

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