Mental health patients and families have raised serious concerns about care failures at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) in north-east England. Several young patients, including teenagers, took their own lives while under the trust’s care, prompting calls for a public inquiry into the trust’s treatment and safety standards.
Why this matters
The deaths of vulnerable young people highlight critical issues in mental health care provision, including inadequate responses to self-harm, poor communication, and failures to provide safe and effective treatment. The trust covers a large area including North Yorkshire, County Durham, and Teesside, affecting many patients and families. Understanding what went wrong is essential to prevent future tragedies and improve mental health services.
Key developments
- Three young women—Christie Harnett (17), Nadia Sharif (17), and Emily Moore (18)—died by suicide within eight months while patients at TEWV hospitals.
- An independent report commissioned by NHS England described the trust’s care as “chaotic and unsafe,” citing excessive restraint and neglect of self-harm incidents.
- TEWV was prosecuted and fined £215,000 in 2024 for safety failings contributing to the deaths of Christie Harnett and another woman.
- Families and former patients have pushed for a public inquiry, which was announced in December but has faced delays in its setup and leadership confirmation.
- Other cases include Nathan Evison, who died by suicide in 2019 after community mental health services failed to admit him despite available beds, and Laurent McNamara, who died shortly after an unexpected discharge from hospital during a manic episode.
Patient and family experiences
Former patients and families describe a lack of compassion and meaningful treatment. Laura Kenny, a former patient and friend of Christie Harnett, recalled staff responding to self-harm by shouting, ignoring, or restraining patients rather than providing support. She and others had warned repeatedly that someone would die.
Christie’s stepfather, Michael, said staff would sedate and isolate her after self-harm incidents without discussing what had happened, leaving her isolated and unsupported.
Nathan Evison’s family believe his death was preventable had the community mental health team admitted him or communicated better with his family. His mother described his rapid decline and lack of support despite his asking for help.
Laurent McNamara’s family criticized the trust for discharging him while still unwell, with his wife saying hospital staff prioritized his wishes over his actual needs during a manic episode.
Inquiry and trust response
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is working to appoint a chair for the public inquiry, which will have legal powers to investigate the trust’s failures in detail. Families and patients want answers and justice for those lost.
TEWV’s chief executive Alison Smith said the trust will cooperate fully with the inquiry and expressed sorrow for those affected. The trust no longer provides in-patient care for young people, which is now handled by neighbouring trusts.
Recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports indicate some improvements in safety and incident reporting at TEWV, but families and former patients remain concerned that lessons have not been fully learned.
Looking forward
The public inquiry represents an opportunity to understand the systemic issues that led to these tragic outcomes and to improve mental health care for vulnerable patients. Families hope it will lead to safer, more compassionate treatment and prevent future deaths.
The memory of patients like Nathan Evison, commemorated by a footbridge in the North York Moors, serves as a reminder of the importance of effective mental health support and the devastating consequences when it fails.
Recommended reading
For more context, see related Peack News coverage and explainers linked below.
