Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Mental Health Solicitors

Essex NHS Trust under investigation following several deaths (22 May 2017)

Date: 22/05/2017
Duncan Lewis, Mental Health Solicitors, Essex NHS Trust under investigation following several deaths

The Linden Centre, based at Broomfield acute general hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, has been the site of seven suicides by hanging since 2000 despite a number of warnings about their safety features, and the dangers of ligature points on features in the room or furniture.

It has been reported that the Linden Centre has received criticism from both the relatives of the deceased and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for failing to implement vital changes to lower the risk of patients taking their own lives, despite promising to do so.

In 2012, 20-year-old Matthew Leahy was admitted to the Linden Centre with mental health issues, and his mother was advised not to visit in the first seven days in order to allow her son to settle. However, one week later Matthew’s mother was informed of her son’s death by hanging himself, and a later inquest found that Matthew had been subject to failings and missed opportunities at the centre.

Matthew’s death was not an isolated incident, and his mother has said that Essex Police are investigating several other cases. An inquest jury recently found that another patient, Richard Wade died in 2015 after staff failed to remove a dressing gown cord that Richard used to take his life. The jury decided that “Adequate and appropriate precautions were not taken to manage Richard’s risk of suicide.”

The CQC reportedly visited the unit prior to Richard Wade’s death, where they advised the unit to review their door hinges in order to prevent them being used for ligature points. However when inspectors returned in 2015, they found “numerous ligature risks”, and found that little had been done to review the doors.

Since the incidents, the trust involved has merged with another and become Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. A spokesperson for the trust said: “The history of serious incidents of self-harm at the Linden Centre is a matter of great concern that the new Trust has already recognised must be addressed. The trust will fully support any police and HSE investigations.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is the UK’s largest provider of Legal Aid mental health services and can advise mental health patients on a wide range of issues – including access to NHS mental health services and detention under the Mental Health Act. Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit NHS hospitals to advise on mental health law – and are available across England and Wales at short notice for hospital and police station appointments.

In some cases, Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors may be able to advise the nearest relative or carer of a mental health patient on a range of issues, including initiating treatment reviews where appropriate.

For expert legal advice on mental health law, call the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 020 3114 1124.


For all Mental Health related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.