Lampard Inquiry resumes - "we want answers"
The Inquiry is investigating mental health inpatient deaths in Essex
The Lampard Inquiry, which is investigating mental health inpatient deaths in Essex, resumes it's hearings today.
The Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard will be hearing evidence families, about their experiences to do with mental health care.
Melanie Leahy will be giving evidence as a part of the inquiry, and she tells us that she wants "honesty, transparency and accountability."
Her son Matthew died in care, and her partner Colin died after neglect over medication.
She says that "this is about lives, not reputations."
Melanie has been campaigning for over a decade to hear answers.
She told us:
"After 13 years I am expecting the Lampard Inquiry hearing to finally give families and survivors the chance to be heard properly, publicly and without interference.
"For too long we've been silenced, we've been ignored, and we've been blamed when we've tried to raise concerns about unsafe care.
"I want to uncover the truth about what's really happened to my son and what's been happening inside the mental health services."
"In 13 years I still do not have full documents in my son's death.
"We want honesty, we want accountability, and we want change."
Melanie said that she wants the "organisations involved to stop hiding behind policies" and "to face the consequences of their actions."
"Families have been carrying the pain and the fight for far too long.
"We deserve to see open questioning and full disclosure, a clear acknowledgement of what went wrong."
Melanie also said that there are cases outside of Essex, and that there are national, and international, cases. She told us that she gets messages from people around the world.
She said the best scenario is one where lives are saved.
"I want to know exactly what happened.
"We want answers.
"The evidence that's going to come out is truly shocking."
"I've been fighting for 13 years, this was a battle that I started on my own.
"But now I think the solicitors that are working with us, they have something like 170 families.
"This is an enquiry into Essex mental health services. If anyone listening that had a loved one under the care of Essex mental health services between 2000 and 2023 and died, either as an inpatient, or I believe within three months of being discharged, or you were a patient, and you were treated appallingly, or maybe you were treated well, you can get involved in this inquiry."
Melanie started #MatthewsCampaign, which has more information available.
She thanked everyone that has supported her throughout her journey, whether they sent an email, or stood on the streets of parliament with her.
"I haven't done this alone, that's for sure. I need to thank everyone, but we still have a long way to go.
"I think we are just at the beginning of this inquiry, please look it up and get involved."