The Lampard Inquiry is an investigation that aims to uncover the extent to which the UK's National Health Service has been affected by the actions of disgraced former breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Lampard Inquiry, a long-awaited and much-needed investigation into the deaths of nearly 2,000 mental health patients in Essex. The inquiry, which has been described as "long overdue," will focus on the years between 2000 and 2023 and will look into the treatment of psychiatric patients in NHS trusts. This inquiry was sparked by a mother's claim that these deaths were a result of a "cull of our most vulnerable, our most gentle, our most needy."

The Lampard Inquiry will be examining the cases of those who died while receiving inpatient care or within three months of being discharged from mental health services. This includes both patients under direct NHS care and those who were in private facilities funded by the state. The scope of the inquiry is wide-ranging and will cover various types of facilities, such as adult mental health units, psychiatric intensive care units, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) units, and more.

The inquiry was initially established in 2021, but due to a lack of cooperation from mental health staff, it was upgraded to a statutory footing where witnesses are now compelled to give evidence. This comes after only 11 mental health staff out of 14,000 came forward to speak about their experiences. Over the course of two weeks, the public hearings in Chelmsford will gather information about the reasons behind these deaths, any failings that may have contributed to them, and whether they could have been prevented.

One of the most vocal voices in the call for this inquiry is Melanie Leahy, whose son Matthew died at the age of 20 while receiving inpatient care at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford. His death, which was ruled a suicide, has left Melanie with unanswered questions and a desire for accountability and prevention of future tragedies. She believes that this inquiry is not just about finding answers, but also about fighting for the well-being of future patients.

Another tragic case that will be examined is that of Marion Turner, a 40-year-old mother of four who hanged herself at home in 2013 after being discharged from The Lakes mental health facility. Her mother, Martha Gaskell, has been fighting for accountability and hopes that the inquiry will prevent similar deaths in the future. The inquiry will also look into the case of Tillie King, a 21-year-old with a history of mental health issues who died in 2020. Tillie's mother, Lisa Bates, believes that her daughter's death could have been prevented if the mental health services had listened to their concerns.

The Lampard Inquiry will be chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard, a former barrister with experience leading other high-profile reviews into public sector issues. This includes investigations into the NHS's handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal and allegations of abuse at immigration removal centers. The public hearings in Chelmsford are set to take place from September 9 to September 25, and while no set timeframe has been given for the publication of the inquiry's conclusions, Baroness Lampard is committed to publishing her report as soon as possible while ensuring thorough investigations are conducted. The families of the victims hope that this inquiry will bring closure and understanding as to why their loved ones were lost while under the state's care and also lead to improvements in mental health services not just in Essex, but across the country.

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