Campaigners are calling for an urgent investigation by Ministers and health regulators into “repeated failings” and missed chances to prevent the deaths by suicide of 369 patients at Sussex Partnership NHS Trust.
The Daily Telegraph reports that 369 people died between 2016 and 2021 while under the Trust’s care despite 15 warnings from coroners about incorrect discharges, medication errors, and a lack of patient supervision.
Former Health Secretary and Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Jeremy Hunt said: "These repeated incidents are deeply concerning and seem to warrant further investigation.
“Bereaved families deserve to know whether vital opportunities to learn lessons and prevent tragedies have been missed, and whether there are deeper, more systemic issues at this trust.
“I hope regulators and Ministers will look at this as a matter of urgency."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said that they had no plans to conduct an inquiry into Sussex, but that “every suicide is a tragedy and our sympathies go to the family and friends of those who have sadly died.”
DR UK Head of Policy Fazilet Hadi said: “It beggars belief that deaths in their hundreds over a five year period do not merit a full investigation. The Department of Health and Social Care and the CQC need to investigate and uncover the systemic issues leading to this exceptionally high level of suicides.”