As I write this, the announcement of a statutory public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust feels deeply personal. Thirteen years ago, my sister died at the age of 20. She was being cared for by TEWV and was known to its services following multiple suicide attempts. To see other families going through similar experiences now, and over the years since her death, is heartbreaking. This inquiry offers hope that lessons will finally be learned, that lives can be saved, and that countless families may be spared the pain that so many have endured.
Since then, I’ve watched as other families have walked the same harrowing path – heartbreak, silence and unanswered questions. That is why this moment feels different. It feels like the light at the end of a very long, very dark tunnel.
Last week, the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, confirmed what so many of us have campaigned for: a full public inquiry into TEWV. For those who’ve fought for years, this is more than a legal step. It is a shift in momentum. For the first time, we may see truth, accountability and genuine reform.
A Hard-Won Breakthrough
The inquiry follows years of campaigning by families who lost loved ones under the trust’s care, including the families of Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore – young women who tragically died by suicide while in TEWV facilities.
Their deaths were described by loved ones as preventable. Their families never gave up.
“With the public inquiry now confirmed, we will fully support the process with transparency, openness and humility,” said Alison Smith, Chief Executive of TEWV.
“Above all, we are committed to listening, reflecting, and taking meaningful action to ensure that we continually improve as an organisation.”
Solicitor Alistair Smith, who represents over 40 families affected by the trust, added:
“This is what families have campaigned so tirelessly for… What these families want above all else is that no other families endure the same experiences.”
Why This Inquiry Matters
Unlike previous reviews, this will be a statutory public inquiry, which means it has the power to compel witnesses and demand full disclosure of evidence. That distinction matters. It is the difference between glossing over and truly uncovering what went wrong.
The inquiry will examine both inpatient and community services and look at systemic issues in patient safety, staffing, leadership and governance across the trust’s broad remit, which includes County Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire.
This is no longer just about the past. It is about the lives that can still be saved if we act with courage and integrity.
A Personal Hope – And a Call for Reform
For me, this moment brings hope. It will never bring my sister back. But it might save someone else. It might mean one fewer family sitting in silence, wondering why no one listened.
It is not driven by vengeance, but by the belief that change is possible.
But a public inquiry alone is not enough. If this moment is to lead to real change, it must also spark urgent reform of the Mental Health Act itself. Too many people are being failed by a system that is outdated, under-resourced and inconsistent. The law must evolve to prioritise safety, compassion and transparency.
If you’re reading this and have been affected by similar experiences with TEWV or another trust, know this: the tide is turning. The silence is breaking. And if this inquiry delivers what it promises, the future of mental health care in our region could finally be on a path toward healing, justice and reform that lasts.
