A public inquiry into a scandal-hit NHS trust which provides mental health care services in York will finally get underway next week.
The probe into years of failings at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Trust will be chaired by a retired judge and begin on Monday (September 21), the government said.
Chair Judge John Potter said his first priority was “to meet and listen to those affected” and promised the long-awaited inquiry would be independent, thorough and fair.
The date of the inquiry’s first public hearing has not been announced.
TEWV has been dogged by calls, including from The Press, for a full statutory inquiry after being convicted and fined over the deaths of two patients and blamed at inquests for contributing to the deaths of others, slammed by watchdogs, and branded as 'requiring improvement'.
Families who have spent years campaigning finally had their calls answered in December when former Health Secretary Wes Streeting ordered the investigation during a meeting with them in Darlington.
Mr Streeting said they had made a “strong case” and thanked them for “sharing their harrowing experiences, not only of losing loved ones but also encountering significant failings of care".
The inquiry's chair, His Honour Judge John Potter, is a retired circuit judge and former deputy judge in the Court of Appeal’s criminal division, with more than 40 years’ experience.
He said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to chair the TEWV inquiry. I am conscious of the responsibility that comes with this role and of the experiences of the patients, families and others affected by the matters the inquiry will examine.
“My first priority will be 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.
“The inquiry will approach its task independently, thoroughly and fairly, and with respect for everyone who takes part. I will work with the inquiry team to put the necessary arrangements in place so that our work can begin as promptly as proper preparation allows.”
While families have welcomed progress, many had expressed frustration at the delay in appointing a chair.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell also voiced her concern over the delays, with the prime minister agreeing to meet the MP to discuss the public inquiry into TEWV.
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Alistair Smith, a solicitor at Ison Harrison, which represents more than 200 families affected by TEWV, said: “The appointment of a chair is important and we welcome this step forward for the many families who have campaigned tirelessly for answers about the care provided by TEWV.
“For years, bereaved families and individuals have raised serious concerns about patient safety, avoidable deaths and the culture within the trust. They have shown remarkable determination in pursuing accountability and meaningful change.
“While the appointment of a chair marks progress, families will be looking for reassurance that the inquiry will move forward without unnecessary delay and will be given the scope and resources needed to fully examine what went wrong.
“They want the inquiry to establish the truth, ensure lessons are learned and provide confidence that improvements are made to protect patients in the future.
“Many families and individuals have waited a long time for this moment. There remains a strong desire to see the inquiry begin its substantive work as soon as possible so that those affected can finally have their experiences heard and properly investigated.”
As chair of a full statutory inquiry, Judge Potter will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The families who were let down by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust have suffered immeasurable pain.”
“Judge Potter has been asked to deliver a report explaining why things went so wrong across the trust’s mental health services and what must change.”
TEWV has long said it will cooperate with the inquiry.
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