Inquiry chair appointed over NHS trust failings

The chair of a public inquiry into mental health care at an NHS trust has been named following months of delays.

His Honour Judge John Potter was appointed chair of the probe into serious failings at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV).

Families, including those of teenagers Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore, who died by suicide following care at the trust, previously said they were "in limbo" over the delays.

The inquiry, which starts on Monday and which TEWV said it would fully support, will give "survivors and families the opportunity to be heard and drive urgent improvements", the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

Potter is a retired circuit judge and former deputy judge of the criminal division of the Court of Appeal. He has more than 40 years' experience in public service, the government said.

He said his first priority was to meet and listen to those affected.

"Their voices and experiences will be central to the inquiry's work and will help inform the development of its terms of reference," Potter said.

The inquiry, which was launched in December, aimed to establish what happened following "serious failings in mental health care at TEWV, why failings occurred and what needs to change to help ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care", the DHSC said.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper added the families were "let down" by the trust and had suffered "immeasurable pain".

Beth Breach, 21, died while under the care of the trust in 2024.

Her family said they believed more could have been done to keep her safe and were still waiting for her inquest and knew a public inquiry could take many years to conclude.

Her mother Nicola Cunningham said the delays meant she "still can't grieve properly".

"There's a lot of un-answered questions and a lot of frustration and anger. Not having all the answers as to what happened to Beth on that day."

Many families had previously complained about the slow progress and delays that had been encountered since the public inquiry was announced last December.

Solicitor Alistair Smith from Ison Harrison, said his company were representing 200 families and individuals who wanted to be involved in the public inquiry.

He said he was "tremendously pleased" a chair had been appointed.

"This is what the families have been campaigning for so long. This is a good moment and we now have movement."

He said while the inquiry would formally begin on Monday, it could be some years before the actual hearings start.

Chief executive of TEWV, Alison Smith, said they welcomed the appointment of the inquiry chair "as an important step forward".

"We acknowledge the significance of this moment for the families and loved ones involved, and we continue to hold them in our thoughts," she said.

"We will co-operate fully with the public inquiry with honesty, openness and humility. We are truly sorry for the times when care fell short, and are committed to listening, learning and continuing to improve."

Lawyers representing those affected previously said they were told an inquiry chair would be appointed by the end of February, along with the terms of reference.

The DHSC said the appointment followed 159 new NHS mental health facilities across England, backed by £343m in funding.

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