'I will fight until bitter end for my daughter'

The father of a teenager who took her own life says it is crucial a full inquest examines the faults and failures in her care.

Emily Moore, from Shildon, County Durham, died at Durham's Lanchester Road Hospital shortly after her 18th birthday in 2020.

A hearing took place on Thursday to determine whether there should be a full inquest into Ms Moore's death, where a spokesperson for the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust said the "care and treatment" she received "had no link to her taking her own life".

Her father, David Moore, said he promised he would "fight for her until the bitter end".

The hearing heard Ms Moore was being treated at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, also run by the trust, when her close friend died and she heard desperate attempts to resuscitate her.

West Lane was closed in 2019.

Mr Moore said the family wanted a "full, public inquiry" after a full inquest, which he would "go on about until the day I die".

Paul Greaney KC, representing the trust, said it acknowledged the death of her friend might have been in Ms Moore's thoughts when she took her own life.

The trust said it did not oppose a full inquest, because it did not wish there to be a perception that it was seeking to inhibit appropriate public scrutiny.

Earlier this year, the trust was cleared of failing to provide safe care and treatment to Ms Moore after it was taken to court by the Care Quality Commission.

The hearing was told there had already been a criminal investigation and an independent report commissioned by the NHS looking at the care and treatment she received.

Senior assistant coroner Crispin Oliver said he would need time to carefully consider the issues raised and was aware of the strain this was having on Ms Moore's family.

A judgement on whether a full inquest will take place will be announced in February.

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