What is the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS trust investigation about?

A public inquiry is investigating patient deaths, including suicides, under the trust's care over the past decade.

Who ordered the public inquiry into the NHS trust?

The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, ordered the public inquiry after meeting with affected families.

Why is there a public inquiry into West Lane hospital?

The inquiry follows the tragic suicides of young patients at West Lane hospital and other facilities run by the trust.

Home / Health / Health Trust Faces Public Inquiry After Young Patient Deaths

Health Trust Faces Public Inquiry After Young Patient Deaths

12 Dec

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Summary

A public inquiry will investigate Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS trust.
Several young patients died by suicide under the trust's care.
The health secretary cited families' campaigning for the inquiry.

Health Trust Faces Public Inquiry After Young Patient Deaths

A comprehensive public inquiry will be held into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust after multiple patient deaths. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the investigation in Darlington, directly addressing families who have lost loved ones under the trust's care. He stated that prior investigations were insufficient and a statutory inquiry is now necessary to provide the truth and accountability families deserve.

The inquiry will focus on the alarming number of suicides among the trust's patients over the last decade. This action follows the tragic deaths of 17-year-olds Nadia Sharif and Christie Harnett in 2019, and 18-year-old Emily Moore in 2020, all of whom died by suicide while receiving treatment. The trust was recently fined £215,000 in April 2024 for failing to mitigate risks for patients who had previously self-harmed.