Essex mental health trust admits failings following inpatient deaths
A mental health trust has admitted to safety failings after the deaths of 11 inpatients where a point of ligature was used in a ward setting.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) was charged at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court with an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Barrister Bernard Thorogood entered a guilty plea on behalf of the Trust at Thursday's hearing.
The Trust is charged with failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that persons not in its employment were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
It covers the period from October 1 2004 to March 31 2015.
Shauna Ritchie, prosecuting, said: "This offence arose following concerns received about failings by the trust to prevent suicide.''
She said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted an investigation and identified 11 deaths where a "point of ligature was used within the ward environment of the Trust's premises''.
"The prosecution case is this defendant failed to take reasonably practicable steps to mitigate what was a clearly foreseeable risk,'' said Ms Ritchie.
"Namely, that patients within their care could be caused harm by ligature if sufficient steps weren't taken to remove ligature points within the ward environment.''
The case was adjourned for sentencing, which is provisionally set to take place at Chelmsford Crown Court on December 10.
The HSE's investigation was of the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP), which merged in 2017 with South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust to form EPUT.
It did not investigate individual patient deaths as this does not fall within its remit.
In an earlier statement which was given as news of the prosecution emerged, EPUT's chief executive Sally Morris said: "As legal proceedings have started, we are restricted in the comments we can make, but I would like to take this opportunity to say our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families whose loved ones were part of this investigation.
"Safety is our absolute priority and we are continually working to ensure the safest environment possible for our patients.''