Overview

• The Lampard Inquiry is investigating over 2,000 deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex between 2000 and 2023, with hearings now underway in London through May 15.
• Regulatory bodies, including the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), are providing evidence on systemic oversight failures.
• Baroness Kate Lampard, chair of the inquiry, has warned the true number of deaths may exceed the 2,000 initially reported due to incomplete data.
• Campaigners, including Melanie Leahy, whose son died in care, are protesting outside the hearings, demanding accountability and reforms to prevent further tragedies.
• Legal representatives for 126 families emphasize the national implications of the inquiry, urging transparency to address broader mental health care failings.