Middlesbrough, UK — A statutory public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) has been delayed for months, leaving grieving families and survivors of the trust’s mental health wards in limbo. The inquiry was first promised by ministers in December 2023 following revelations that three teenage girls died by suicide within eight months while under TEWV’s care. Now, more than 100 days past the promised start date, families say they have received no clarity on who will lead the investigation or when it will begin.
Among them was Christie Harnett, 17, who took her life in 2021 at West Lane Hospital, now renamed Acklam Road Hospital. Christie’s stepfather, Michael Harnett, recalls her describing how staff would pin her down, sedate her, and leave her unattended after episodes of self-harm. “They didn’t talk to her. They didn’t check on her. They just locked her away until she woke up,” he said. Christie’s friend, Laura Kenny, now 23, corroborates this account. At 13, Kenny was admitted to the same unit with an eating disorder that spiralled into self-harm and suicide attempts. She describes a culture where staff responses to crises were either violent restraint or deliberate neglect. “Their idea was to shut you up,” Kenny says. “Either they’d leave you for hours while you headbanged or bled, or they’d slam you to the floor, inject you, and walk away.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 17 — Christie Harnett’s age at her death
- 8 months — Timeframe in which three teenage girls died
- 2013–2023 — Laura Kenny’s decade-long treatment under TEWV
- 12 — Former patients who described systemic failures to the BBC
These accounts are not isolated. In 2023, an independent inquiry commissioned by NHS England found “chaotic and unsafe” conditions at West Lane Hospital, with staff instructed not to intervene during self-harm episodes. The report also documented excessive and inappropriate restraint, tolerated by managers. TEWV issued a public apology and pledged reforms, but families and survivors allege little has changed. Nathan Evison, 19, died by suicide in 2019. Laurent McNamara’s death followed in 2023. Both were under TEWV’s care. Their families describe a pattern of dismissive treatment and a lack of therapeutic intervention.
| Aspect | TEWV’s Claim (2023) | Survivor Accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Response to Self-Harm | Encouraged early intervention | Instructed to ignore or restrain violently |
| Restraint Practices | Used as last resort | Routine response, even for non-violent episodes |
| Therapeutic Support | Ongoing treatment offered | Negligible or absent in practice |
The delayed inquiry has intensified scrutiny of TEWV’s leadership. Alison Smith, who became chief executive in September 2023, stated the trust would “cooperate fully” with the inquiry “with honesty and humility.” Yet families remain skeptical. Alistair Smith, a solicitor representing multiple bereaved families, says the trust’s promises ring hollow without independent oversight. “Three years after the first damning report, the same failures are still being reported,” he says. “How can we trust that lessons have been learned?”
Key Points
- ⚠️ Three teenage girls died by suicide within eight months under TEWV’s care between 2019 and 2023
- ✅ 2023 NHS England inquiry confirmed “chaotic and unsafe” conditions at West Lane Hospital
- ⏳ Public inquiry promised in December 2023 has yet to begin, despite ministerial assurances
Kenny, who is now studying law at university, has spent years campaigning for accountability. She says the trust’s failures extend beyond individual incidents. “This wasn’t about one bad nurse or one bad shift,” she says. “It was a system that treated us as problems to be contained, not people to be helped.” Her description aligns with the NHS England report, which found that failures were “tolerated by managers” and that staff were discouraged from intervening in self-harm. The report also noted that restraint was used punitively, rather than therapeutically.
💡 Pro Tip
Families seeking answers should document every interaction with the trust, including dates, staff names, and descriptions of care. These records can strengthen legal challenges and support calls for independent reviews.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) claims it is working “at pace” to confirm the inquiry’s chair and terms of reference. A spokesperson said the inquiry would prioritize the voices of patients and families, but offered no timeline. Meanwhile, TEWV continues to operate under the same leadership that presided over the failures. Critics argue that without decisive action, more lives are at risk. “We knew somebody would die,” Kenny says. “And nobody listened.”
- 🔍 Survivors describe a punitive, not therapeutic, approach to mental health crises
- 📊 NHS England’s 2023 inquiry confirmed systemic failures but lacked legal power to compel change
- ⚠️ The delayed public inquiry risks further erosion of trust in TEWV’s willingness to reform
For those still under TEWV’s care, the message from families is clear: demand accountability. Laura Kenny, now a vocal advocate, urges current patients to speak out. “If you’re being ignored, tell someone outside the trust,” she says. “Write letters, record incidents, find a solicitor. Don’t wait for another life to be lost.”
- Immediate Action for Families — Request detailed records from TEWV under the Freedom of Information Act to identify patterns of neglect or abuse.
- Legal Support — Contact specialist solicitors, such as Ison Harrison, which is representing multiple families in negligence claims against the trust.
- Public Pressure — Attend local council meetings or MP surgeries to demand transparency from TEWV and the DHSC.