Public inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust confirmed by Health Secretary
A public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS trust has been announced by the Health Secretary today
Last updated 12th Dec 2025
There will be a public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS trust, according to an announcement from the Health Secretary today.
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP Andy McDonald was in attendance at a meeting in Darlington earlier today,
He tells us it is a result he has campaigned for a long time to achieve, alongside the families of three young women who took their own lives under the Trust's care.
Today, the Teesside MP told us;
"I thank the Health Secretary for his announcement today.
"I have been campaigning with the families for a public inquiry into these avoidable deaths in our mental health service for many years.
"Today we have a huge sense of relief and achievement reflecting years of tireless effort, but also a sense of vindication for their determination that only a public inquiry would do.
"The dreadful events that claimed the lives of three young women, Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore exposed a broader cultural malaise at Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust and many more families found themselves grieving the loss of their loved ones.
"We now know that there have been numerous patients and families disastrously failed and it is imperative that every family affected gets to the truth of what happened and how the system let them and their loved ones down so very badly.
"I have made repeated representations to health ministers in previous governments but sadly those pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Despite pressing the previous government on the families’ entitlement to truth, justice and accountability, those Ministers simply refused to listen.
"I am therefore extremely grateful to Wes Streeting. He has listened to what I and my parliamentary colleagues have had to say and much more importantly has listened to the families.
"Wes has spent considerable time hearing their accounts and I know they will be relieved that what they have been pleading for has come to pass with the announcement of the public inquiry.
"Last month the Labour Government introduced the Public Accountability Bill - referred to as the Hillsborough Law - promising a new beginning to the duty of candour in public life. Today’s announcement affirms our commitment to that promise.
"It is imperative that all of our public services are held to account and that we better understand the prevalence and the development of these conditions and the very serious issues of the pressures, particularly which young people are placed under, and wider considerations to ensure early and effective interventions in the way our mental health services react and respond.
"I acknowledge the Trust’s efforts to prevent future failures and the important work now being done under its new Chief Executive, Alison Smith, but it is imperative that the families have the benefit of the public inquiry which will also enable the Trust to learn and embed the improvements in practice for the future that are clearly needed if our community is to have confidence in its Mental Health services.
"This has been a long hard fight to get to this day and the inquiry ahead will be painful but sadly it is very necessary.
"Today’s sense of relief and vindication reflects the families’ unwavering determination to secure this inquiry."
In a response from the Trust itself, Alison Smith, the chief executive said:
“First and foremost, I extend my deepest sympathy to everyone affected by these tragic losses.
“With the public inquiry now confirmed, we will fully support the process with transparency, openness and humility. Above all, we are committed to listening, reflecting, and taking meaningful action to ensure that we continually improve as an organisation.”
Alison Smith, chief executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust said: “First and foremost, I extend my deepest sympathy to everyone affected by these tragic losses.
“With the public inquiry now confirmed, we will fully support the process with transparency, openness and humility. Above all, we are committed to listening, reflecting, and taking meaningful action to ensure that we continually improve as an organisation.”