Families of teenagers that died after being admitted to mental health clinic call for public inquiry
Teenagers Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore died while under the care of the trust between June 2019 and February 2020
A family from County Durham whose daughter died after being admitted to a mental health clinic run by the Tees, Esk, Wear Valley Trust is calling for a public inquiry into how the centres were led.
Three young women lost their lives after being admitted to mental health services run by the trust between June 2019 and February 2020, including 17-year-old Christie Harnett from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham - who died at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough.
Christie's step-dad Michael tells us he believes the care she received in multiple trust-run hospitals contributed to her death.
Michael said: "She was in there to keep safe. They said a few times she needed to be there to keep safe, but she was worse in there than she was out really.
"Christie had been on a number of children's wards, and even a number of adult hospitals, and they all were exactly the same, even the adult wards. All the staff behaved in the same kind of way, where in the Trust it was chalk and cheese really.
Michael added that Christie's mum, Charlotte, was concerned for her daughters health if she returned to the hospital.
"Charlotte had said on the phone that if she goes back there she'll end up dead. It was only days later when she ended up in intensive care, then three months later she was", said Michael.
The Trust will fully cooperate with an independent investigation
Just weeks after Christie's death, 17-year-old Nadia Sharif from Middlesbrough died at the same facility. The hospital was closed down but then reopened in April last year.
In response, a pressure group has formed following the death of three patients who were admitted to mental health clinics run by the Tees, Esk, Wear Valley Trust.
The families feel the care their kids received under the trust lead to their deaths, so they hope a petition will lead to a public inquiry into how the trust operates.
The Trust has responded saying that they've made significant changes in care and personnel since 2019, promising the families that they'll work extremely hard to deliver more changes.
The Trust have added that they're fully cooperating with an independent investigation, commissioned by NHS England and their hearts go out to the families of Nadia, Christie and Emily.