Hearings mean that witnesses can give evidence orally, as well as in a written form. They are an important part of the inquisitorial process, so the Chair can establish as complete an understanding of the facts as possible.
All hearings will be open to the public and media unless a Restriction Order is in place or a commemorative impact account is being delivered and the witness has asked for it to remain private. Private sessions do not diminish the importance of the evidence being provided nor do they undermine the Inquiry’s commitment to transparency. They reflect the Inquiry’s commitment to conducting this process with fairness, sensitivity, and care for all those engaging with the Inquiry.
More information on Restrictions Orders can be found here.
Not everyone who provides a witness statement to the Inquiry will need to then attend hearings to give evidence in person.
Those who are called will be told in good time, and support will be available to anyone attending at the Inquiry’s request.
The Inquiry held its first public hearings from 9 September 2024, with further public hearings in November 2024. Those hearings included opening statements to the Inquiry and impact evidence where the Chair heard from people directly affected by the issues under investigation.
The Inquiry’s next public hearings will take place from Monday 7 July to Thursday 24 July. The hearings will be held in public in London and will be live streamed. It will therefore be possible to watch the hearings either in person or remotely. Further details can be found on the logistical information page.
The Inquiry’s hearings for 2025 and 2026 will be held at Arundel House, near Temple Underground Station in London.
It will not be necessary to attend hearings to view what is taking place. Hearings will be filmed and a live feed will be available for those wishing to follow proceedings. A secure link will also be made available to core participants and their legal representatives.
Yes. Unless specified, all hearings will be open to the public to attend. Depending on their location, the Inquiry may require prior registration for reasons of capacity.
The Inquiry is committed to treating people fairly and will make reasonable adjustments where necessary.
If you have been asked to attend a hearing by the Inquiry, please do let us know if you have any disabilities or additional needs. This could be a physical or mental health issue, a learning disability or neurodiversity or another condition that may prevent you from participating fully. We will work with you as best we can to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made.
A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability that places an individual, in this instance who is engaging with the Inquiry, at a substantial disadvantage. Examples include providing information in a different format, or the use of regular breaks.
These can be agreed in consultation with the Inquiry team and without the need for a formal application.
Special Measures are measures linked to the way in which a witness will give evidence at a hearing. They are measures that the Inquiry agrees to put in place to assist them in giving their best evidence. Some Special Measures (i.e. those that have the effect of restricting public access to evidence) will require a formal application for a Restriction Order to be made at the time they are requested. An example would be if a witness wishes to give evidence at a private session or one where public attendance is restricted.
Other Special Measures (i.e. those that do not involve restricting public access to evidence) can be agreed in consultation with the Inquiry Team on receipt of a request for such measures. An example of such a measure is allowing a witness to give evidence by video link.
More information on Special Measures and Restriction Orders can be found in the Inquiry’s Protocol on Restriction Orders, Redaction, Anonymity and Special Measures and Protocol on Vulnerable Witnesses.
If you are asked to give evidence at a public hearing and you think you require or would benefit from Special Measures, you can submit a Special Measures Request Form or you can contact the Inquiry Team directly to discuss your requirements.
The Inquiry will create a collection of witness statements which are relevant to the July Hearing. These will be made available to Core Participants and their legal representatives during the week beginning 9 June 2025.
July hearing will be hearing evidence (including from family members) related to the circumstances of those who died whilst under the care of SEPT (South Essex Partnership Trust) and NEPT (North Essex Partnership Trust), and some evidence concerning the Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT). The Inquiry will be updating Lived Experience Core Participants on the process of obtaining evidence from them shortly.
Statutory inquiries have a process around questions which may be asked of a witness at a hearing.
Usually, only Counsel to the Inquiry or the Chair will ask a witness questions.
However, it is possible for the legal representatives of Core Participants and witnesses to request certain questions are asked, under Rule 10 of the Inquiry Rules.
Rule 10 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 allows the legal representative of a Core Participant or a witness to ask the Chair if a witness at hearing can be questioned on particular matters which they feel is important.
The Inquiry has published a protocol on Rule 10 for the July Hearing, for further details please see.
The Inquiry has published background presentations on the details about the mental health landscape over the period that the Inquiry is investigating.
Please note: These presentations are not to be considered exhaustive but provide a starting point for further exploration.
