Baroness Kate Lampard CBE, the Chair of a statutory public inquiry investigating
mental health inpatient deaths in Essex, has today opened the application
process for Core Participant status.
The Lampard Inquiry is investigating mental health inpatient deaths in Essex
between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023.
A Core Participant is someone who plays a key role in an inquiry process. They
may receive disclosure of evidence, make opening and closing statements, and
suggest lines of questioning for witnesses.
Baroness Lampard is inviting applications from those with a significant interest in
the matters being investigated, such as Essex based families of mental health
inpatients who have died, current and former mental health staff, and
organisations providing inpatient services.
Speaking in a video statement, Baroness Lampard said:
“I am honoured to be chairing the Inquiry and I am committed to carrying out
thorough investigations which are appropriately focused and proportionate. This
is key given the urgency of the matters I am looking into.
Now that the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference have been agreed and published, I am
able to proceed with the substantive work of the Inquiry. One of the first steps I
am taking is to open the application process for Core Participant status.
I look forward to considering the applications for Core Participant status and to
making progress with this important Inquiry.”
You can watch Baroness Lampard’s video statement, published today, on the
Lampard Inquiry YouTube channel here.
The Terms of Reference, set by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Victoria Atkins, were published on 10 April and included the following changes:
- Extending the Inquiry’s scope by three years; the Inquiry will now examine
deaths between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2023; - Including those who died within 3 months of discharge;
- Including those who died as inpatients receiving NHS funded care within
the independent sector.
Full details of the scope of the Inquiry can be found in the Terms of Reference on
the Inquiry’s website here.
