The father of an 18-year-old woman who took her own life at a mental health hospital has said she was “let down”. Emily Moore died last week at a facility run by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which has seen five patient deaths in less than two years.
Ms Moore had previously been treated at West Lane Hospital, where two 17-year-olds, Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, died last summer. She moved to adult services at Lanchester Road Hospital after turning 18 earlier this month.
Her father, David Moore, described the trust’s mental health services as “diabolical”. He said: “She had been to this trust just three times and she has lost her life. They need to learn and somebody needs to be responsible.” Mr Moore was among campaigners who previously called for urgent action at West Lane Hospital, which has since closed after a Care Quality Commission warning about a high risk of “avoidable harm”.
Trust chief executive Colin Martin expressed condolences and pledged a full review. “We always carry out a full review when someone under our care dies and as part of this we will carefully look into the family’s concerns,” he said. He added that findings would be shared with the family and immediate actions taken if needed.
The deaths have sparked wider concern. Last month, Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald called for Roseberry Park Hospital to be included in NHS England’s West Lane inquiry following the deaths of two adults there in 2019.
