Home / Health / New Chair Takes Helm Amid EPUT Public Inquiry
New Chair Takes Helm Amid EPUT Public Inquiry
31 Aug
Summary
- New interim chair appointed for EPUT from September 1.
- EPUT is central to an ongoing public inquiry into deaths.
- The new chair has over 30 years of NHS experience.
As of August 31, 2026, Jackie Craissati is set to assume the role of interim chair for the Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust (EPUT) starting September 1. This appointment occurs while EPUT is at the center of the Lampard Inquiry, a public investigation examining the deaths of more than 2,000 individuals at NHS-run mental health facilities in Essex between 2000 and 2023.
Craissati, who brings over three decades of NHS experience, stated her commitment to high-quality healthcare and the integration of mental health and community services. Her leadership at EPUT, which provides community, mental health, and learning disability services, aims to continue the focus on service improvement. This follows a March inspection by the Care Quality Commission, which identified a "disconnect" between EPUT's senior leadership and its frontline operations, calling for leadership improvements.
