Between 2000 and the end of 2023, more than 2,000 patients died during mental health care. The lawyer said at the hearing that the government's 10-year health plan says this points to bad care.
The Lampard Inquiry is about the care of patients. The lawyer Nicolas Griffin used the occasion to put the government's point of view about major and avoidable harm in mental health, including in Essex. The plan describes things such as a toxic working environment, bad leadership, punishing everyone to death, and conflicting information.
During the next two weeks, the families of those who lost their loved ones will give their testimonies in the fourth public Lampard hearing. At present, the majority of mental health services in Essex are being run by the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
At the hearing, Mr. Griffin stated that hearing the voices of those who speak would bring to light the big problems. He said, "The Inquiry knows that many families and friends, because of what they have been through, know a lot about mental health issues, care, and treatment. It values their know-how and plans to work with families and their groups to look into big issues as they come up in each case." Griffin said other issues arising in the witness statements from families include bad care, poor communications, unsafe places, and no one to hold to account.
His Honour said they had been following deaths and new cases related to EPUT, including Elise Sebastian's in 2021. At the Essex Coroner's Court, a jury said that "inadequate checks" had led to her death at the age of 16 years. EPUT apologized to the family of Elise as well as its director, Paul Scott, for this incident.
He talked of further deaths in mental health care in 2024 and April 2025 that "might show real and still going problems in Essex." In fact, he said that coroners had issued or would likely issue prevention of future deaths reports in relation to these matters, all while highlighting very significant ongoing issues.
At the London hearing, Mr. Griffin noted how the inquiry had remained very strong on setting out who was to blame, going as far as naming even some of the more junior staff. However, he said staff could apply for their names to be withheld pursuant to the law and the inquiry's rules. The previous hearings had been in September and November 2024 and May 2025.
In response to criticism of the government's health project, Mr. Scott said, "As the inquiry moves on, we'll hear many stories of loved ones who have been missed for the past 24 years, and I must express my deep sorrow for their loss."
"We in health care must join hands to better care and treatment for everyone and keep building on the good already done in the last 24 years."