Press Release – May 2026

Relatives and patients affected by serious failings at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust have voiced growing anger at the continued delay to a promised public inquiry, with legal representatives at Ison Harrison warning that the lack of progress risks undermining confidence in the Government’s commitment to uncovering the truth.

In December, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, confirmed that a statutory public inquiry would be the most effective route to get to the core of prolonged, ongoing concerns at the Trust. The decision followed a meeting with bereaved families in Middlesbrough, where urgent action was acknowledged as necessary. A Written Ministerial Statement was laid in Parliament, with assurances that the inquiry would examine failures in care that led to patient deaths and deliver clear recommendations to prevent further tragedy.

Despite Wes Streeting’s pledge four months ago to move with urgency, the process has stalled, leaving grieving relatives and patients in a state of limbo while the Trust continues to face fresh allegations of avoidable harm.

Families were also told that an inquiry chair would be appointed by the end of February, with the terms of reference to follow in consultation with those directly impacted. Two months on from that self-imposed deadline, and over a year since the Health Secretary first acknowledged the need for immediate intervention, no chair has been named and no formal roadmap exists.

The human cost of this delay is illustrated by recent tragedies. An inquest this month into the 2024 death of a Durham man identified serious failings in observation and engagement that were “more than minimally contributory” to his death. His case mirrors that of a woman who also lost her life in 2024 following critical communication and care failures at Lanchester Road Hospital, the same TEWV-managed facility where teenager Emily Moore was a patient when she fatally injured herself in 2020. These deaths occurred after the unit at Lanchester Road was described in 2023 as “chaotic and unsafe,” a warning that the firm argues proves that delay quite literally causes deaths.

For the families of Emily Moore, Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, whose tragic deaths previously exposed “multifaceted and systemic” failings, this latest tragedy serves as a harrowing reminder that the risk to patients remains active while the inquiry remains on paper only.

Ison Harrison, now instructed by approximately 130 individuals and families, reports that many are currently experiencing immediate safeguarding concerns and an urgent need for treatment. Crucially, many of these individuals feel unable to access TEWV services due to the trauma and harm they previously suffered. The firm is now calling on the Government to provide alternative provision for these patients, as this lack of accessible care represents a further serious risk that is not being addressed.

Alistair Smith, senior solicitor at Ison Harrison, who has supported bereaved families impacted by the Trust for over five years, said: “There was a clear sense of momentum at the end of last year. Families were given a firm commitment that a statutory public inquiry would take place and that the Trust would be held to account for what can only be described as monumental failings, yet that optimism has been replaced by profound disappointment.

“The preliminary stages should have been a straightforward step toward transparency, yet we are seeing the same pattern of delay that has characterised the Trust’s history. The Government promised these families the truth in a forum as robust as the Post Office inquiry, but you cannot find the truth without a chair to lead the search”.

Michael Harnett for the Rebuild Trust campaign group, added: “Stepping into the initial briefing in Middlesbrough felt like an emotional milestone, a sign that our voices were finally being heard. Now it feels like the Government has gone silent. While they drag their heels on paperwork, the Trust is allowed to function as normal, despite proof that patients are still being failed. We were told to hold the Secretary of State’s feet to the fire, and that is exactly what we are doing, we cannot wait for another tragedy before this inquiry actually begins”.

In his December correspondence, the Health Secretary sought to reassure families that the inquiry would drive meaningful reform, with robust mechanisms to ensure recommendations are implemented. He acknowledged the determination of those campaigning for justice, stating he would work to ensure they did not feel the need to push for progress themselves.

For many, the absence of tangible steps since then has left those assurances looking increasingly fragile.

Ison Harrison is calling on the Health Secretary to appoint a public inquiry chair and begin formal proceedings immediately to prevent further loss of life. Anyone affected is encouraged to share their experiences through the dedicated online portal at https://www.isonharrison.co.uk/tewv-inquiry-form/.

Anyone affected can also find more information on the Rebuild Trust website  https://www.rebuildtrust.co.uk

ENDS

Further Information Media enquiries and interview requests for Alistair Smith or family representatives should be directed to Ison Harrison, on 01642 070860 and/or email: TEWVinquiry@isonharrison.co.uk