27th August 2025

As the Lampard Inquiry continues to investigate the tragic deaths of more than 2,000 people under Essex mental health services, one parent is raising urgent concerns that the same systemic failures are happening right now—this time to her daughter.

The Inquiry’s terms of reference are focused on those who died in mental health wards, or within three months of discharge. However, families in Essex warn that children and adults currently living in the community are being failed by the very systems designed to protect them.

The Case of a Young Girl Left Without Support

The mother, who cares for five disabled children with complex needs, says her daughter has been wrongly removed from the Dynamic Support Register (DSR)—a system intended to identify and support people with autism or learning disabilities at risk of mental health crisis. She explains:

“Her CETR [Care, Education and Treatment Review] flagged her as high risk, but the Integrated Care Board (ICB) has decided she’s not at ‘immediate risk’ and removed her from the register. This ignores NHS England guidance and dismisses the CETR recommendations.”

The CETR identified several urgent issues:

  • No school placement, with her Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) ignored—fueling her mental health decline.
  • No tuition provided, despite Essex County Council’s legal duty under Section 19 to ensure education for children unable to attend school.
  • No health budget, despite repeated requests and statutory duty under the Children and Families Act to fund agreed therapies.
  • No carers’ support, despite her mother’s role as sole carer for five disabled children, with no personal assistant in place.

“Bureaucratic Ping-Pong” Between Agencies

The mother describes being caught in a cycle of blame between Essex County Council and the ICB. Each points to the other for responsibility, leaving her daughter without education, health provision, or mental health safeguarding.

“This is exactly the type of neglect the Inquiry is investigating. The only difference is that my daughter is still alive—and at risk.”

Despite submitting over 14 safeguarding referrals (LADO requests)—including for her other children—none has been actioned. Complaints to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) have also stalled, with the Ombudsman deferring back to the Trust, which she claims blocks investigations unless complaints are narrowed to terms they set.

Call for Immediate Intervention

The mother is calling on Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the Lampard Inquiry, and NHS England to urgently intervene:

“Children and adults like my daughter remain at risk of system failure with no safety net. The failures in Essex are not just historic—they are happening today.”

Campaigners argue that while the Lampard Inquiry is essential in learning lessons from past deaths, it must also shine a light on the ongoing systemic neglect that leaves vulnerable people unsupported and unsafe in the community.

A Wider Crisis in Safeguarding

This case highlights what many families in Essex have long reported: children and adults with autism and learning disabilities falling through the cracks of fragmented systems, despite clear statutory duties to provide education, health, and care support.

The failures currently under investigation may not only be echoes of the past—they could be the warning signs of future tragedies if urgent reform and accountability are not enforced.

#DisabilityRights #LampardInquiry #TransformingCare #Accountability