Inquiry trust told to act on rise in inpatient deaths

Commissioners have demanded an action plan after an “increase of inpatient deaths” at a mental health trust already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths.

The rise at Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust is recorded in Essex Integrated Care Board’s quality summary for the second quarter (July to September), published in papers for its meeting on 15 October.

The ICB said an action plan had been “requested to assure patient safety governance is in place”. The papers do not say how many deaths there have been, over what period, or which units are affected.

EPUT chief nurse Ann Sheridan said: “Sadly at times we do see deaths on our wards – these can be for a number of reasons and our priority is always to support families and to ensure that we fully understand the cause and circumstances.

“We care for 100,000 people across the wider trust and many of our patients have complex health needs. It’s important that we look into individual circumstances, working closely with families and partners.”

The Lampard Inquiry is examining the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023, including people who died within three months of discharge. It is due to report in 2028.

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Source: HSJ, 14 October 2026