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A public inquiry has been launched into the mental health care provided by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust (TEWV), following persistent campaigns from families who lost loved ones they believe were let down by “chaotic and appalling” treatment. This announcement was made by Health Secretary Wes Streeting after he met with relatives affected by the issues at the trust. Among those campaigning were the families of Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, both aged 17, and Emily Moore, 18—all of whom died by suicide after receiving care at facilities linked to TEWV.
Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif were patients at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, where their tragic deaths occurred. Emily Moore, who also died by suicide, had been an inpatient at the Lanchester Road mental health hospital in Durham. TEWV has expressed its commitment to cooperate fully with the inquiry, promising transparency, openness, and humility throughout the process. The inquiry will specifically investigate failings in care at the trust and will run independently from other existing inquiries into mental health services.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed gratitude for the families who courageously shared their experiences. He characterized what had happened to their loved ones as “unacceptable” and praised the families’ relentless advocacy not only for their own relatives but for everyone depending on urgent mental health support. The inquiry will seek to identify the shortcomings at the trust and ensure that lessons are learned, distinct from inquiries such as the ongoing Lampard Inquiry.
Supporters of the families, including Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP Andy McDonald, described the announcement as a long-awaited victory. He acknowledged the trust’s attempts to prevent further failings but emphasized the necessity of the inquiry for accountability. The chief executive of TEWV, Alison Smith, highlighted the organization’s dedication to continuous improvement, stating they are committed to listening, reflecting, and taking meaningful action.
The families have consistently insisted that the deaths of their loved ones were preventable. A 2022 independent review previously identified a series of failures at West Lane Hospital, describing it as overstretched and unstable. Following that review, the trust issued an apology and faced a financial penalty of £215,000 related to safety shortcomings that contributed to the deaths of Christie Harnett and another patient. Michael Harnett, Christie’s stepfather, spoke of his frustration with the trust’s inaction despite his repeated complaints about the hospital’s conditions. He recalled distressing scenes of self-harm among patients and questioned why such deterioration was allowed to persist.
Emily Moore’s father, David, shared that his ongoing commitment to securing a public inquiry has been a driving force in his grief. He voiced a hope that such an inquiry would prevent other families from experiencing similar losses. Serving around two million people across County Durham, Teesside, and North Yorkshire, TEWV is one of the largest foundation trusts in the country, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health care failures within its services
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