Scrapping of suicide review 'one of my worst days'

The mother of a man who took his own life said she cried "in the middle of the shops" after discovering the NHS had ditched plans to conduct a suicides review.

Last year, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust said it would look into all 63 suicides of its patients since 2017.

Maria Nowshadi, 57, said she was "very relieved" when the review was announced.

But the organisation has now cancelled it, saying the inquiry would not answer the "highly personal questions some families might have”.

• If you are feeling emotionally distressed, help and support is available via BBC Action Line.

The trust previously said the thematic review would identify "further learning and common themes" from adults who died under its care.

The review was to be conducted internally, but an external body was later appointed to ensure "further objectivity and independence".

However, upon speaking with the families and loved ones of those involved, the trust said it became clear the review could not answer individual concerns.

Ms Nowshadi's son James, from Cambridge, took his own life in 2020 while under the trust's care.

The report on the 23-year-old's death found no systemic issues but Caroline Jones, assistant coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said it was "not a credible report".

Ms Nowshadi said she hoped someone would "have a good look at what was going on within the trust".

She has been in regular contact with the trust to check on the progress of the review and was distressed to find out it had been cancelled.

"I was really shocked and upset," she said.

"I was out shopping when I took the call and I was crying in the middle of the shops. It's probably been one of my worst days for a while."

She questioned which families the trust had been in touch with before making its latest decision and thought it should reconsider.

The trust declined the opportunity to respond to Ms Nowshadi's concerns.

In a statement on its website, the trust said: "We remain committed to listening to the families and loved ones of those affected by suicide and within the scope of the review and will continue to engage with them as we embed learning to improve our services.”

Improvement agency Aqua had been appointed to conduct the suicide review.

Chief executive Sue Holden said Aqua "understands" the trust's decision and, while disappointed, "continues to support organisations looking to embed strategies for developing learning from deaths into improvement".

Follow Cambridgeshire news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830