Chelmsford’s MP, Vicky Ford, has launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward and give evidence to the inquiry into Mental Health services in Essex. She is particularly urging former inpatients and staff to share their testimonies.
The independent inquiry into Essex Mental Health Services is examining around 2,000 mental health patient deaths between 2000 and 2020. Last week, Mrs Ford led calls from Essex MPs for the inquiry to be put on a statutory inquiry if there is not a quantum leap in staff engagement. A statutory inquiry could then compel staff to give evidence in public.
During a debate in Parliament, the MP for Chelmsford read extracts from the testimony shared with her by a Chelmsford resident who had been an inpatient under Essex Mental Health Services in the mid-2000s. The horrifying testimony describes how she was raped by another patient and when she asked for support she was laughed at by staff. The survivor went on to describe how she had been left to treat her own serious injuries, was repeatedly restrained and had been able to make suicide attempts, all whilst a patient on an Essex Mental Health ward.
Mrs Ford said “No one should ever suffer in this way. It is vital that the inquiry is able to establish the truth of what happened so that lasting improvements can be made to save lives in the future. Survivors who have shared their testimony are incredibly brave. They are the eyewitnesses to what actually happened. I hope more survivors will come forward as their stories are crucial to learning what went so awfully wrong.”
Confidentiality of former inpatients who share their testimonies is respected and the approach of the inquiry is to take evidence in private. Those who do come forward are being offered psychological support by the British Red Cross.
MPs have also expressed their dismay at hearing that of the 14,000 staff whom the inquiry has contacted, only 11 have come forward to give evidence. Vicky Ford said “ It is incredibly disappointing that the staff engagement has been so terribly low. Unless more staff offer to give evidence urgently, the inquiry will move onto a statutory basis and some staff are then highly likely to be compelled to speak to the inquiry and this may be in public. I would urge staff to come forward now.”
Evidence can be given to the Mental Health services in Essex inquiry in the following ways:
- By email - [email protected]
- By telephone - 020 7972 3500
- By post - EMHII, Po Box 78136, London, SW1P 9WW
- By the online form: https://www.emhii.org.uk/contact-form-for-evidence-sessions/
More details on Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry : Home - Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry (emhii.org.uk)
