Inquest Group – Unlawful Killing – A mother’s relentless fight for answers after Matthew Leahy’s death in Essex mental health services.
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Investigating Essex: Dying To Be Saved.
Naomi Channell – TRUE CRIME SERIES
Episode 1 : Failing Matthew
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What’s the Point of the Ombudsman? – My Contribution to a Vital New Book
I am honoured to have contributed to the newly published book What’s the Point of the Ombudsman?, edited by Della Reynolds and published by PHSOtheFACTS.
This book brings together the lived experiences of individuals and families who turned to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) seeking truth, accountability, and justice. Instead, many of us found ourselves trapped in a bureaucratic maze, battling delay, denial, and devastating outcomes.
My chapter tells part of that story — how families already devastated by tragedy are forced to relive their pain in a complaints process that feels designed to protect institutions rather than uncover the truth.
This book is not just about personal stories. It is a collective call for reform. The voices in these pages highlight a clear pattern: the Ombudsman, as it currently operates, is not fit for purpose. When the system set up to deliver accountability ends up compounding harm, it must change.
I am proud to stand alongside other contributors who have bravely shared their experiences. Together, we are shining a light on an institution that must be re-examined if trust in our public services is to be rebuilt.
What’s the Point of the Ombudsman? places ordinary voices at the centre—those impacted by systemic failure, seeking transparency, justice, and reform. I hope policymakers, journalists, and public advocates will read these stories and confront the urgent call for change.
He Died Waiting – Learning the Lessons: A Bereaved Mother’s View of Mental Health Services
I’m honoured to have contributed to He Died Waiting: Learning the Lessons – A Bereaved Mother’s View of Mental Health Services, written by Caroline Aldridge. This book tells the moving story of her son Tim, who lived with bipolar disorder and tragically died while waiting for mental health support.
The book gives voice to bereaved families, exposing the repeated failings of mental health services and challenging the hollow promises of “learning lessons.” I add to this call for change, sharing lived experience of systems that too often harm those they are meant to help.
This is not only a mother’s story of grief—it is a call to action. It highlights the urgent need for reform, compassion, and genuine accountability in mental health care. By amplifying the voices of families, we hope to inspire meaningful change.
He Died Waiting is both a tribute to Tim’s life and a vital resource for policymakers, professionals, campaigners, and anyone who believes mental health care must do better.