Growing anger by North East families over continuing delays into TEWV public inquiry
A public inquiry was promised back in December by former Health Secretary Wes Streeting
There are worries about further delays to a public inquiry into people who died under the care of a mental health trust across the North East.
There's been no progress since the promise back in December by former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and families say it's worrying the new one, James Murray, may not know about them.
The legal representatives of the relatives and families, who are part of the Rebuilt Trust campaign group, are issuing a warning saying that the lack of progress risks undermining confidence in the Government’s commitment to uncovering the truth.
In December, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, confirmed that a statutory public inquiry would be the most effective route to get to the core of prolonged, ongoing concerns at the Trust.
The decision followed a meeting with bereaved families in Middlesbrough, where urgent action was acknowledged as necessary. A written ministerial statement was laid in Parliament, with assurances that the inquiry would examine failures in care that led to patient deaths and deliver clear recommendations to prevent further tragedy.
Families were also told that an inquiry chair would be appointed by the end of February, with the terms of reference to follow in consultation with those directly impacted. No chair has been named and no formal roadmap exists.
Michael Harnett is from Newton Aycliffe and his daughter, 17 year-old Christie, died in 2019 at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough.
He said: "It's not looking good, to be honest, for anything happening any time soon. It is frustrating. Obviously, we knew it would take a while and everything has been quite slow.
"When Wes met us in December and he said how he hoped to get it all sorted by the beginning of February, it was quite hopeful that it was going to happen. And then slowly the date slipped and we never heard anything.
"It's a big worry because obviously someone new coming in, they've got to sort the job out themselves and figure out what exactly they're doing. So I think to be honest, it's just going to push this further down the list and delay it even longer.
"Although we know it's definitely going to happen, it's at the minute how important is it on his list of everything he needs to get done. So it was disappointing when Wes stepped down because yeah, I think it is going to delay what's happening quite a bit.
"I'd like to think this inquiry will progress forward, but then there's a big issue in that is he James Murray hasn't met with any of the families, so he hasn't heard all the stories, you know, unless he's been reading and keeping up on everything he's not going to know the whole situation behind it.
"It's horrible because it has taken so long to get to this point. And then obviously we did get that initial date and it's just like the goalposts to just keep getting moved every time. But then on the other side of that, it's we're used to it as well because everything up to now has always been followed by delays.
"It is horrible to say and think about it that we are that used to everything being delayed, that it almost wasn't a surprise that it is delayed. It shouldn't be the norm. The public inquiry as well is going to last for years, so we're not going to be able to grieve properly until long after the public inquiry, to be honest."
Michael, as part of the Rebuild Trust campaign group, added: “Stepping into the initial briefing in Middlesbrough felt like an emotional milestone, a sign that our voices were finally being heard. Now it feels like the Government has gone silent."
Alistair Smith, senior solicitor at Ison Harrison, who has supported bereaved families impacted by the Trust for over five years, said: “There was a clear sense of momentum at the end of last year. Families were given a firm commitment that a statutory public inquiry would take place and that the Trust would be held to account for what can only be described as monumental failings, yet that optimism has been replaced by profound disappointment.
"The preliminary stages should have been a straightforward step toward transparency, yet we are seeing the same pattern of delay that has characterised the Trust’s history. The Government promised these families the truth in a forum as robust as the Post Office inquiry, but you cannot find the truth without a chair to lead the search".
Ison Harrison is calling on the Health Secretary to appoint a public inquiry chair and begin formal proceedings immediately to prevent further loss of life. Anyone affected is encouraged to share their experiences through the dedicated online portal.
Anyone affected can also find more information on the Rebuild Trust website.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "For too long, patients and families in this region have been let down and left without answers.
“Secretary of State is committed to ensuring the voices of patients and the families affected by failures at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust are at the heart of this inquiry.
"We have taken on board views regarding the most appropriate Chair and are working at pace to confirm their appointment and the inquiry’s terms of reference as soon as possible."