From left, Amanda Cook, Lisa Morris and Melanie Leahy, who have all been campaigning for a public inquiry into their relatives’ deaths while in the care of the North Essex Partnership Picture: WILL LODGE – Credit: Archant
An Essex mother is urging people to write to their MP and sign a petition calling for a public inquiry into the death of her son at a mental health trust.
Matthew Leahy, who was found hanging at the Linden Centre in Essex back in 2012 – Credit: Archant
Melanie Leahy says “something went terribly wrong” with the NHS services provided to Matthew, 20, which led to his death in 2012.
Last week the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) identified a series of significant failings made in the care of Matthew and another vulnerable patient, identified only as Mr R, who died at the former North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP).
The PHSO said NEP had “missed opportunities” to ensure the safety of the young men and their families had been “badly let down” by the Trust, which had failed to make improvements in the years following their deaths.
So far Mrs Leahy’s online petition calling on the Government to hold a public inquiry has been signed by nearly 6,000 people. If it reaches 10,000 signatures, Whitehall officials will issue a response.
The Linden Centre in Chelmsford. Picture : NICK STRUGNELL
