This page contains information for family members and friends of those of have died within scope of the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference. Here, you can access Frequently Asked Questions, links to relevant documents, and information about our emotional support service.
Contact us
If you believe you have relevant information to provide to the Inquiry, please contact us by emailing: contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk
Emotional Support
A list of organisations that can provide support and advice relating to mental health and bereavement can be found on the support services page.
The Inquiry is not a mental health support services, and we cannot intervene in any clinical decisions.
Everyone who engages with the Inquiry is entitled to access our free, independent emotional support servce provided by Hestia. For further information please visit Emotional support provided by the Inquiry page.
FAQs
I am currently engaged with the Inquiry
How can I keep up to date with the inquiry?
If you are a Core Participant, you will be kept updated with the Inquiry’s progress either by your legal representative or by the Inquiry secretariat.
If you are not a Core Participant but are involved in the inquiry, or you are a member of public, you can subscribe to receive the latest updates from the Inquiry direct to your inbox.
If you have any questions about updates, you can contact the Inquiry team at contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk.
I provided evidence when the Inquiry was in its non-statutory phase (Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry), what happens now?
During the Inquiry’s non-statutory phase, the Inquiry heard evidence from family members and friends of those that had died. The Inquiry has reviewed that important evidence, and we are grateful to those who provided it.
In some cases, where the provided evidence was about a topic which the Inquiry needed more information on, the Inquiry has contacted those people to ask for an additional witness account.
I would like to share my evidence in a public hearing; can I still do this?
The next set of hearings is scheduled for 2 February – 19 February 2026 and will include evidence from bereaved families and friends.
Not everyone who provides a witness statement to the Inquiry will need to then attend hearings to give evidence in person.
The decision to call people to provide evidence in a hearing is at the discretion of the Chair. Those who are called will be told in good time, and support will be available to anyone attending at the Inquiry’s request.
If you would like to discuss sharing your evidence in a public hearing, please email contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk.
You can also find more information about past and future hearings, including provisional hearing dates for 2026.
I provided evidence to the Inquiry; will this be published?
The Inquiry will publish evidence where it is necessary and proportionate to fulfil the Terms of Reference.
Evidence may also be disclosed to Core Participants, witnesses, experts or other individuals the Inquiry is engaging with, to assist the Inquiry with its investigations and to help the Chair meet the Terms of Reference.
All personal and sensitive information that is provided to the Inquiry will be appropriately handled. For example, there are provisions within the Inquiries Act 2005 which permit the Chair to make a Restriction Order. This can restrict evidence from being made public if there are good reasons to do so.
An individual or organisation can apply to the Chair for a Restriction Order which can relate to any part of their evidence, including their identity.
Why are some pieces of my evidence redacted (a white box has been placed over part and/or all of a document)?
As statements and documents provided to the Inquiry can contain sensitive, including personal, information they may need to be redacted in accordance with the Inquiry’s Protocol on Restriction Orders.
Redaction may also be used to exclude information that is not considered relevant to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference.
I have provided evidence to the Inquiry, what happens now?
Thank you for providing evidence to the Lampard Inquiry.
All evidence provided to the Inquiry is important and valued. It will be reviewed by the Inquiry’s legal team, and any particular areas of concern, or lines of enquiry will be followed up, as appropriate. Your evidence will also be read by the Chair to support her report and recommendations.
You will be kept updated with the Inquiry’s progress either by your legal representative or by the Inquiry secretariat. If you have any questions in relation to the evidence that you have given, please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk.
How is the Inquiry carrying out its investigations?
The Inquiry’s approach to investigations will be published in due course.
The Chair will investigate the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex and, identify systemic issues in order to answer the terms of reference and make recommendations for change.
As the Inquiry is investigating systemic issues we will not be looking into every individual case in detail. Where there have previously been comprehensive investigations into clinical failings or related issues, the Inquiry does not intend to reinvestigate these matters. However, we may re-examine matters where previous processes lacked systemic scope or independence.
Can the inquiry determine civil or criminal liability?
No, public Inquiries cannot by law determine civil or criminal liability. The Inquiry cannot prosecute, discipline or revoke an individual’s right to practice.
If the Inquiry becomes aware of any misconduct and any criminal (suspected or otherwise) behaviour it is our duty to inform regulators or the police.
However, the Inquiry can name people in the final report, attribute criticism and refer matters to other organisations (for example, the NMC, GMC, the Police).
When will the report and recommendations be published?
The date the Inquiry will publish its report and recommendations is not fixed. The Inquiry has been established to do a thorough investigation into mental health inpatient deaths in Essex.
As the Inquiry progresses, information regarding the publication of the reports and recommendations will be shared with Core Participants and others engaged with the Inquiry.
What will happen to the recommendations once they are made?
From the start, the Inquiry is giving careful consideration as to how it can make recommendations that are implementable and practical, whilst ensuring that they are as effective as possible. It is possible that the Chair may choose to publish interim recommendations as the Inquiry progresses.
The Inquiry is establishing a Recommendations and Implementation Forum (RIF), which will seek views as to how the recommendations may be implemented to ensure meaningful change. Further information on how public inquiry recommendations are framed, implemented, and monitored.
I would like to be involved in the Inquiry
What is the Lampard Inquiry?
The Lampard Inquiry is a statutory public inquiry into the deaths of mental health inpatients under the care of NHS Trust(s) in Essex between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023. For a more comprehensive view of our scope, you can view our full Terms of Reference, Explanatory Note and List of Issues on our website.
Public inquiries are investigations into issues of public concern. They are inquisitorial in nature, rather than adversarial. For more information about public inquiries visit our ‘About Inquiries’ page.
I would like to be involved in the Inquiry; can I still participate?
Participating in the Inquiry as a family member or friend is entirely voluntary and the Chair will not compel a family member to provide evidence.
The Chair welcomes any family members or friends of those who have died within scope of the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference to get in contact with the Inquiry team to discuss how they may be able to participant in the Inquiry.
You can contact the Inquiry team regarding participation in the Inquiry at contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk.
How do I know if my family member or friends’ death is in the scope of the inquiry?
To find out if a family or friend’s death is in scope of the Inquiry’s investigation, we encourage you to read the Terms of Reference, Explanatory Note, or you can contact the Inquiry team at contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk.
My family member or friend was a mental health patient in Essex, how do I know if the provider is in scope of the inquiry?
A list of providers that are in scope can be found below.
NHS providers
1. Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and its predecessors:
- North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEPT)
- South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT).
2. North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NEFLT).
Independent sector providers
- Priory Healthcare
- Cygnet Healthcare
- St Andrews Healthcare
- NEST Healthcare
For more information regarding the scope of the Inquiry please read the Explanatory note.
I received a Next of Kin letter, but I did not get in contact with the Inquiry, can I still provide evidence?
If you are a family member or friends of someone who has died within the scope of the inquiry, the Chair welcomes you to get in contact with the Inquiry team. Participating in the Inquiry as a family member or friend is entirely voluntary and the Chair will not compel a family member to provide evidence.
The initial window for Core Participant status opened on 22 April 2024 and closed on 20 May 2024. Applications received after this date will be considered; however, when deciding whether to grant Core Participant status, the Inquiry will take into account both the reasons for the delay and any impact the delay may have on the Inquiry’s work.
You can read more about what being a Core Participant is, how to apply and if it is right for you.
If you do not wish to become a Core Participant or would like to ask any other questions about participation you can contact the Inquiry team at contact@lampardinquiry.org.uk.
How can I keep up to date with the inquiry?
If you are member of the public and are not a currently engaged with the Inquiry but you would like to receive updates from the Inquiry team you can subscribe to receive the latest updates direct to your inbox.
