Our statement on the first day of the Lampard Inquiry

On September 9, the long-awaited Lampard Inquiry got under way. The inquiry is tasked with investigating the deaths of more than 2000 mental health inpatients in Essex between the years 2000 and 2023.

Baroness Lampard, who is leading proceedings, said the inquiry was "of the gravest concern and significance" and said that we may never be able to say for sure how many people died.

Marking the first day of the inquiry, Brian Dow, Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

"Bereaved families have endured a painful campaign for truth, their grief intensified by the struggle for answers. Thanks to their tireless efforts, the Lampard Inquiry will shine a light on the state of mental health services, both in Essex and nationwide, forcing us to confront how we care for people when they're unwell.

"The inquiry will no doubt expose the trauma experienced by people who should have been kept safe in hospital. For many, it will echo familiar failures in mental health care. While new evidence will emerge, we already anticipate that the findings will be devastating, and it is distressing the answers to these questions have not been provided so far."