Wes Streeting praises families as he orders TEWV public inquiry

Wes Streeting praised grieving families who have spent years campaigning for the probe into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS mental health trust as he met them in Darlington this afternoon (December 11).

He ordered a full statutory inquiry into the trust, praising families and The Northern Echo’s “tenacious” reporting for convincing him it was the “right thing to do”.

He said: “This public inquiry is happening because of these families. They are remarkable people.

“They’ve turned unimaginable grief into a campaign for action, and I am only sorry that it has taken so long to come back with a decision.

Wes Streeting announces a public inquiry into TEWV. (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

“I want to thank The Northern Echo for its tenacious reporting, shining a light on families’ experiences and holding authorities to account.

“For too long, patients and families in this region have been let down by failures at the trust – too many lives lost, too many families left without answers. 

“I have met with families who have shown extraordinary courage – not just in the face of devastating loss, but in their determination to ensure no other family suffers as they have. They have campaigned tirelessly for their loved ones and for everyone who needs mental health support.

“These families may sleep a little easier tonight, and some of the people responsible for the negligence and failure may sleep a little less well.”

Families arriving for the meeting on Thursday. (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

For years, TEWV has been dogged by calls for a public inquiry after being convicted and fined over the deaths of two patients and blamed at inquests for contributing to the deaths of others, slammed by watchdogs, and branded as ‘requiring improvement’.

The probe will be a full statutory inquiry, giving it the legal power to call witnesses to give evidence. Families will be consulted on who should chair the inquiry and what it should investigate. It is understood that it could take up to three years to report back.

Wes Streeting speaking to famiies during a meeting at the Mercure hotel in Darlington on Thursday (December 11). (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

Families told the Echo they thought the inquiry would never be called when they spoke after an emotional hour-and-a-half meeting with Mr Streeting at the Mercure hotel in Darlington.

Michael Harnett’s stepdaughter Christie died aged 17 at TEWV’s later shut-down West Lane Hospital in June 2019. The trust was prosecuted and fined in court over her death.

He said: “I didn’t think this day would ever come. We’ve fought for six-and-a-half years.

“Even today I came here expecting a no, it’s not going to happen.

Michael Harnett, dad of Christie. (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

“You almost don’t want to feel joy because of what it is and what’s happened.

“Losing Christie was a horrendous loss for us as a whole family and now we’re going to get the answers we need. We’ve had the reports and they’ve only left us with more questions.

“I’ll definitely sleep easier tonight. It’s going to be a nice Christmas.”

Mr Streeting said previous investigations have not been sufficiently comprehensive and not covered all the deaths in the care of the trust. 

David Moore has fought tirelessly for a public inquiry after his daughter Emily died in 2020. She attempted to take her own life at the trust’s Lanchester Road hospital in Durham and was taken off life support two days later. The trust was cleared of giving her unsafe care in court. An inquest into her death, set to last five weeks, will be held in the summer.

Emily Moore. (Image: The Northern Echo)

David, from Shildon, said: “We’ve fought so long for it and the day has come.

“Hopefully it’ll bring out the truth, which I think everybody wants at the end of the day.

“Everybody was clapping and cheering when he announced it.

“He pretty well came out with it straight away and said, ‘I’ve got some good news for you, we’ve decided on a public inquiry’.”

David Moore speaking to media after the public inquiry was confirmed. (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

A report previously found 119 failings in Christie, Emily and Nadia Sharif’s care after the three teenage girls all died between June 2019 and February 2020. Investigators uncovered CCTV footage of Nadia being ‘dragged’ down a corridor backwards.

Nadia and Christie pictured together. (Image: The Northern Echo)

Nadia’s dad Hakeel added: “This feels like a small moment of justice for Nadia. It’s been six-and-a-half years now so if this takes three more, that’s just a small difference.”

Hakeel Sharif (left) with Anem and Arshad, family of Nadia. (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

The Northern Echo has been campaigning alongside families to demand a statutory public inquiry, and included it in our election manifesto last year, which was backed by the Labour government.

The probe will focus on uncovering failures in care that have led to patients losing their lives, aim to identify issues specific to TEWV and make actionable recommendations to reduce the risk of similar tragic events occurring in the future. 

TEWV has repeatedly said it would “co-operate fully as required with openness and transparency” with any inquiry.

Alison Smith, 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.”

TEWV’s West Park hospital and HQ in Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDLECOTT)

Lawyer for the families Alistair Smith said: “I never thought this day would come, you dreamt of it, you dreamt of change, but you never thought this was ever going to happen.

“The same things you find are coming out of the trust five years after its initial ‘journey to change’ was announced. The Secretary of State was so concerned about it he’s called a statutory public inquiry, which is absolutely what is needed here and what all the families wanted.

“Hopefully it’ll bring some absolutely needed change and fundamentally different ways of doing mental health for now and into the future.”