THE mental health trust at the centre of a public inquiry into over 2,000 patient deaths has said changes in how they operate have meant they have not had any patient suicides over the last two years reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The number of in-patients under the care of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) inflecting serious self-harm has also been maintained below three per cent.
However, the number of “low harm or no harm” incidents among EPUT inpatients has increased steadily since early 2020.
The trust has said there have been no deaths associated with incidents of self-harm in acute adult mental health inpatient services since September 2022.
Chief nurse Ann Sheridan told an Essex health scrutiny meeting: “The trust has put a lot of work in its estates around removing fixed ligatures but also working with people around other methods that people may wish to self-harm.
“So, lots of work around our activities. And we know that with good quality activities on inpatient wards that reduces where people are feeling distress that can be redirected in a more effective way.”
Ms Sheridan added: “We’ve also seen a reduction in our investigations of serious patient incidents. What we are seeing in our data is a rise in those low harm no harm incidents and a reduction in our serious incidents.
“That would be in keeping with where we’d expect to see from a national perspective. Because, of course, if you can learn early on if you can pick up intelligence if you can prevent things, that’s where we want to be.”
EPUT is a key contributor to the Lampard Inquiry – the first public inquiry specifically looking to understand what happened to patients who died at children and adult inpatient units under the care of the NHS in Essex between the years 2000 and the end of 2023.
The inquiry will focus on Essex Partnership University Foundation NHS Trust (EPUT) and the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), along with organisations that existed previously.
Nigel Leonard said: “We’re very committed to supporting the Lampard inquiry and helping the inquiry fulfil its terms of reference.
“We’re particularly keen to ensure that the families involved receive the answers that they so deserve.
“So the approach that the board has taken since day one and even as part of the preceding independent inquiry is to be transparent and cooperate fully with utmost candour.”
