Health boss's departure 'cowardly', say families

Bereaved families have called the departure of the head of an NHS trust that is the subject of an ongoing mental health public inquiry as "a cowardly move".

Paul Scott is leaving his role as head of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) in July.

EPUT has been the subject of criticism as part of the Lampard Inquiry, examining the deaths of more than 2,000 people at NHS-run mental health units in Essex.

Melanie Leahy, who campaigned to hold the inquiry for more than a decade, said Scott's exit was "profoundly concerning".

Scott will take over at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) in July after Nick Hulme announced his retirement in October.

The Lampard Inquiry, which is the first public inquiry of its kind, is examining mental health-related deaths that occurred between 2000 and 2023.

The inquiry - which is not due to publish its recommendations until 2028 - is focusing on EPUT and North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), and their predecessor organisations.

Leahy, whose son Matthew died in 2012 while being treated at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford, said leadership at EPUT "cannot simply rotate while accountability is left behind".

"Why step away at such a critical moment?" she asked, adding that "no-one connected to this period can simply walk away".

"Families have fought too long for the truth for it to be diluted or avoided now," she added.

Sam Cook from Witham, Essex, who lost three people connected to mental health, including her sister Paula Parretti, said Scott's departure at this moment was "a disgrace".

"The amount of stuff that's happened [over the 24-year scope of the inquiry], how is someone going to come in and catch up on all of that?" the 41-year-old asked.

Her thoughts were echoed by Emma Harley, 46, from Saffron Walden, who lost her brother Terry White in 2019.

"My immediate reaction is it's a cowardly move," she told the BBC.

"It reeks of everything that's been wrong in the system," she added.

EPUT has repeated its apology to bereaved families and said that lessons would be learned.

A spokesperson for the trust said its deputy chief executives Alex Green and Trevor Smith would lead on an interim basis, and that supporting the Lampard Inquiry would remain "a key priority" for them and the board.

Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, the chair of EPUT, thanked Scott for his leadership over the last six years, saying he had "overseen a programme of improvement and transformation, putting patients and carers at the heart of the trust".

"He has been an inspirational leader for us, driven by our shared values at all times," she added.

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