A scandal-hit regional health trust has vowed to support a public inquiry with openness and transparency, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Bosses at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS mental health trust responded after the Government answered calls for the probe following years of campaigning.
TEWV has been heavily criticised in recent years amid ongoing calls for a public inquiry after being convicted and fined over the deaths of two patients and blamed at inquests for contributing to the deaths of others, slammed by watchdogs, and branded as ‘requiring improvement’.
They included the families of Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, both aged 17, who died by suicide after being treated at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, and Emily Moore, 18, who also took her own life following treatment at the hospital.
A report previously found 119 failings in Christie, Nadia, and Emily’s care.
Speaking to councillors in Darlington, Beverly Murphy, the trust’s chief nurse, welcomed the announcement of the inquiry.
She said: “We recognise the importance of the public inquiry for the families. It is with absolute openness and transparency that we say that. We recognise that, despite our best efforts, we have not been able to assure the families of the steps we have taken and the changes we have made.
“It is absolutely right and proper that the Secretary of State, Wes Streeting, has made this decision and worked with the families on that.”
Councillor Matthew Roche, cabinet member for health and housing, said he hopes the inquiry “will bring some sense of closure or comfort to the families in the long term, although it will be a difficult process for them.”
The probe will be a full statutory inquiry, giving it the legal power to call witnesses to give evidence. Families will be consulted on who should chair the inquiry and what it should investigate. It is understood that it could take up to three years to report back.
Ms Murphy added: “We are waiting for the scope of the inquiry; we understand that [Mr Streeting] will want to look at developing that with the families, which we wholeheartedly support.
“This is a very difficult period of time for those families, and we continue to offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences. We hope this brings some closure for them.”
Mr Streeting said previous investigations have not been sufficiently comprehensive and have not covered all the deaths in the care of the trust.
Speaking after announcing the public probe in December 2025, he said: “This public inquiry is happening because of these families. They are remarkable people.
“They’ve turned unimaginable grief into a campaign for action, and I am only sorry that it has taken so long to come back with a decision.
“For too long, patients and families in this region have been let down by failures at the trust – too many lives lost, too many families left without answers.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
