Witham MP presses Health Secretary for update on the statutory inquiry into mental health services in Essex
Priti Patel, the Member of Parliament for Witham, has written to the Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, for an update on the inquiry into mental health services in Essex, following the announcement that it would be moving to a statutory footing.
The independent inquiry into mental health services in Essex was first announced in 2021. Since the initial inquiry was established, Priti has raised concerns about the lack of engagement with the independent inquiry, comments which were echoed by the previous Chair of the Independent inquiry, Dr Geraldine Strathdee, who also raised concerns that the inquiry required more engagement from the Trust and its staff to get victim’s families the answers they deserve.
On the 28th June 2023, the Health Secretary announced that having listened to these concerns, as well as those relating to ongoing safety issues at the trust, that the Government would seek to give the inquiry statutory powers. Since the announcement, families and Members of Parliament are still waiting for further information from the Department for Health and Social Care about the progress of the inquiry, its terms of reference and who the new Chair of the Statutory Inquiry is going to be.
Commenting on this, Priti said: “The inquiry into mental health services in Essex has been ongoing for the last two years and substantial progress has not been made. Now that the inquiry has statutory powers, it is paramount that the Department is transparent and efficient in conducting this inquiry efficiently.
“Families who have experienced these tragedies should not be going thorough any more delays and deserve closure as quickly as possible. I have therefore asked the Health Secretary for an update regarding the progress of the inquiry, particularly when it comes to whether the terms of reference have been drawn and who the new chair of the inquiry is going to be. I look forward to receiving an urgent update from him.”