Calls for police to investigate mental health deaths in Norfolk and Suffolk
Campaigners have written to the chief constables of Norfolk and Suffolk to request an investigation into thousands of mental health deaths in those areas.
They say coroners are raising safety issues but no improvements are being made.
A report by independent auditors found as many as 8,440 patients had died unexpectedly over three years.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust said it had started a review of patient deaths.
Coroners worried about the risk of future deaths highlight unsafe practices in prevention of future deaths reports (PFDs). And authorities are required by law to respond with an action plan within 56 days. The Norfolk and Suffolk trust said it had responded to all PFDs and was working to ensure recommendations and actions were implemented.
But Mark Harrison, from the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk, said: "There's a criminal case to answer. And we want the police to investigate, where the same mistakes have been repeated time and time again."
He said coroners were repeatedly warning of risks such as delays to treatment, lack of patient follow-ups, chaotic record keeping and disorganised communication between teams.
Mr Harrison said: "The mental health trust always responds saying they've learned lessons, they are changing policy and practices.
"But then what we're seeing in analysing the orders from the coroner are repeat circumstances where other people have died in similar circumstances to a previous prevention-of-future-deaths notice."
Source: BBC News, 12 December 2023