Families who have lost loved ones under the care of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust have been promised a decision by the end of March on whether a public inquiry will be launched.
This follows a meeting on 13th of February 2025 in Westminster with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, where the families urged the government to take action. Among them were relatives of Christie Harnett and Emily Moore, who both lost their lives after experiencing serious failings in the trust’s mental health services. A further 20 families joined the meeting via video link from Watson Woodhouse Solicitors’ office in Middlesbrough.
Christie’s dad, Michael Harnett, said a public inquiry would be about “accountability”. “This will leave no stone unturned, and it’ll give us the closure that we need.”
Watson Woodhouse Solicitors’ Alistair Smith, who represents the families, stated “The families welcomed the opportunity to speak to Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, in a meeting lasting almost 2 hours. He was attentive and interested which all the families appreciated saying the families had made a strong case for a Statutory Public Inquiry. He said he would come to this area to meet with families and we look to arrange that meeting. We await his decision regarding the Public Inquiry by the end of March.”
Sign the Petition
The calls for a public inquiry continue, you can help the fight for justice by signing the petition: https://www.rebuildtrust.co.uk/help-us/
Support Is Available
If the subject matter of this article or story has affected you in any way, then please know that support is available. When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Suicide and self-harm are preventable, and support is available.
Contact Us
If you require support following the death of a loved one, please contact the Inquest team. Call us for a free and confidential consultation with a specialist solicitor on 01642 247656. Alternatively, complete our online contact form and one of our solicitors will be in touch.
In The Media
Families promised mental health inquiry decision
Families meet Health Secretary West Streeting over deaths in care of Tees Esk and Wear Valleys Trust