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Inquiry to hear of 'structural racism' in care

Family handout Edwige Nsilu sitting in front of a house plant at a bar. She has black hair, with braids that have white highlights in them. She is wearing a necklace and a green camoflague top and is smiling at the camera.Family handout
Edwige Nsilu died at an NHS-run mental health unit in Essex

Bereaved families are due to raise their concerns that institutional racism may have impacted care given to black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) patients.

The families are expected to read statements at the Lampard Inquiry, which has been examining mental health-related deaths at NHS-run units in Essex between 2000 and 2023.

At least 2,000 deaths are being reviewed by Baroness Lampard, the inquiry's chairwoman.

The chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), Paul Scott, has previously said it was committed to learning from the inquiry.

Among the deaths being looked into are those of Sophie Alderman, 27, and 20-year-old Edwige Nsilu.

The Alderman and Nsilu families are due to address the hearing in Chelmsford on Monday.

They said they would outline what they believed were a series of "systemic failings" that led to the deaths in 2022 and 2020 respectively.

Family handout Sophie Alderman, who has shoulder length brown hair and is smiling at the camera. She is lying on a sofa indoors while holding phone in her hands and wearing a black, long-sleeved top.Family handout
Sophie Alderman was under EPUT care at Rochford Community Hospital when she died

Law firm Bindmans LLP, which is representing them, said relatives wanted the inquiry to scrutinise how "structural and institutional racism and discrimination" may have impacted care delivered to BAME patients.

They also wanted the inquiry to focus on the role infrared sensitive cameras - used by staff to monitor patients - played on inpatient wards.

Ms Nsilu died while in the care of St Andrews Healthcare, an independent mental health provider in Essex.

Two nurses who found her believed she was "feigning unconsciousness" and left her on the floor at the time of her death, Bindmans said.

Ms Alderman was under EPUT care at Rochford Community Hospital, where "repeated restraints and staff shortages were common", Bindmans added.

Richard Knights/BBC Campaigners stand outside the Civic Centre in Chelmsford. They are all mostly wearing black while holding placards featuring pictures of loved ones who have died.Richard Knights/BBC
Baroness Lampard paid tribute to the "dedicated and tireless campaigning" of bereaved families as the inquiry opened

Opening the inquiry in September, Baroness Lampard said it was "of the gravest concern and significance".

She warned the number of deaths was expected to be "significantly in excess" of the 2,000 figure previously reported.

Mr Scott said his thoughts were with those who had lost loved ones.

However, he disputed the 2,000 deaths figure made public by the inquiry.

He said it included deaths from natural causes, for example where some patients may have been transferred to hospital after a heart attack.

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