Ex-trust executive to probe NHS manager’s death

An ambulance trust has appointed a former senior trust executive to lead an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unexplained death of a staff member, HSJ  has learned.

East of England Ambulance Service Trust also shared the terms of reference for the investigation withHSJ, which follows the trust being forced to launch a similar probe in 2020 after three young staff members died in 11 days in December 2019.

The latest investigation is into the death of Nick Lee, 46, from Ovington in west Norfolk, who died on 3 December 2021. Mr Lee was an operations manager for the trust in the west Norfolk area and had worked for the trust for nearly 20 years. The cause of death is yet to be officially established.

Margaret Pratt has been appointed by the trust to lead the investigation. 

A trust statement issued to HSJ said: “The purpose of the investigation is to look at the events leading up to the death, review the circumstances of the death and consider whether there is anything that the trust can learn to contribute to improving the support provided to staff.”

The investigation follows a prolonged period of years in which the trust has been dogged by high-profile and deeply ingrained cultural and bullying problems.

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Source: HSJ, 29 March 2022