A forthcoming Statutory Public Inquiry will examine serious concerns relating to care provided by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV).
As part of the Inquiry, first-hand accounts from patients and families could help build a fuller picture of the systems and services provided by the Trust.
We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was previously a patient at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, as well as family members and carers who had contact with the hospital and its staff.
What you saw, heard or remember could help provide a better understanding of what it was like within West Lane and whether concerns previously identified were more widespread.
We recognise that thinking or talking about that time again may be difficult. Anyone who wishes to speak to us can do so in confidence, and all conversations will be approached with sensitivity, care and respect.
There is no obligation to become formally involved in the Inquiry. If you would simply like to tell us about your time at West Lane, ask a question or find out more about why we are asking former patients and families to come forward, you are welcome to contact us.
You can call us on 01642 070860 or email TEWVInquiry@isonharrison.co.uk
The TEWV Public Inquiry and West Lane Hospital
The Government announced a Statutory Public Inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust following longstanding concerns about patient safety and the care provided by the Trust.
The Inquiry will look more widely at TEWV and is not limited to West Lane Hospital. You can read more about the background to the TEWV Public Inquiry and Ison Harrison’s involvement.
West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough provided inpatient mental health services for children and young people and was operated by TEWV. It has previously been the subject of a number of independent investigations following serious concerns about the care provided there.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, who both died in 2019 following incidents while patients at West Lane, are also due to be considered as part of the wider Inquiry. The inquests into their deaths have been suspended pending the Inquiry.
Why are we asking to hear from former West Lane patients?
Previous investigations have identified serious concerns about the care provided at West Lane and the way in which services were managed.
However, official reports and records can only provide part of the picture. First-hand accounts from people who spent time there, as well as their families and carers, could offer valuable insight into day-to-day life within the hospital.
If you or someone close to you received care at West Lane, there may be things you saw, heard or remember that you feel should be heard.
These could include:
- the care and treatment provided;
- staffing and supervision;
- the general environment within the hospital;
- communication between staff, patients and families;
- record keeping;
- how concerns or complaints were responded to;
- restraint or observation;
- safeguarding;
- the culture within the hospital; or
- any other aspect of day-to-day life at West Lane.
You may be unsure whether what happened during your time at West Lane could be relevant to the Inquiry. If so, you are still welcome to get in touch.
Whether you have a specific concern or simply want to tell us what you remember, we will listen to what you have to say and treat anything you tell us sensitively and in confidence.
Do I have to take part in the Public Inquiry?
No.
Speaking to us does not mean that you have to become formally involved in the Public Inquiry.
You may simply want to tell us about something that happened or that you witnessed at West Lane, or you may have questions about the Inquiry and why we are asking people to come forward.
There is no commitment or obligation to take matters any further.
What if I find it difficult to talk about my time at West Lane?
We understand that some former patients and their families may have difficult or distressing memories of West Lane Hospital, and that talking about the past may not be easy.
You do not have to tell us everything at once. You can tell us as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, and getting in touch does not commit you to doing anything further.
Anything you tell us will be treated sensitively and in confidence. We will listen and give you the time and space you need to talk about what happened.
Why could what you tell us be important?
The purpose of a Public Inquiry is to establish what happened, understand why it happened and identify lessons that can help prevent similar problems in the future.
Hearing directly from people who were at West Lane may provide important context alongside official records, reports and other evidence.
Something that may have seemed isolated at the time could form part of a wider picture when considered alongside information from other patients and families.
You do not have to have made a complaint at the time, and you do not need to have previously spoken publicly about what happened.
We would like to hear from former patients, families and carers, whether there is a particular incident or concern you want to tell us about, or you simply want to describe what you remember about day-to-day life within West Lane.
Tell us about your time at West Lane Hospital
We understand that making contact may feel difficult. Every enquiry will be treated sensitively, respectfully and in confidence.
To tell us about your time at West Lane or find out more, contact Ison Harrison’s TEWV team:
Call 01642 070860 or email TEWVInquiry@isonharrison.co.uk
Useful Support
We understand that reading about West Lane Hospital or revisiting past experiences may be difficult or upsetting. If you feel that you or someone close to you would benefit from additional support, the following independent organisations may be able to help:
Rebuild Trust
A dedicated space for individuals and families affected by care provided by TEWV, offering support, information and an opportunity for those affected to have their voices heard.
If U Care Share
Provides support to people affected by suicide, including those who have been bereaved, as well as emotional wellbeing support for young people.
The Headlight Project
Provides counselling and therapeutic support to adults and children in the Tees Valley who have been bereaved by suicide, alongside suicide prevention education and training.
Mind
Information and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem, as well as their families and carers.
YoungMinds
Mental health information and support for young people, parents and carers, including the YoungMinds Parents Helpline.
Samaritans
Confidential emotional support for anyone who is struggling or needs someone to talk to. Samaritans can be contacted free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123.
INQUEST
Independent information and support for bereaved families following a death involving state care, including deaths involving mental health services.
