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Mental health campaigners voice concerns to MPs

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Natalie McLellan, whose daughter died last year, spoke with MPs in Westminster over her concerns

Campaigners including bereaved families met with MPs to voice their concerns about an under-pressure mental health trust.

Members of the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk & Suffolk travelled to London on Monday.

Natalie McLellan, whose daughter Rebecca died last year, said some of the politicians were "really engaged" but said the group had to "keep going".

The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) said it was aware more work was needed to improve care.

The group previously said it was concerned over the number of coroners who had criticised the trust.

Six prevention of future death reports have so far been sent to the service in 2024 - more than the total it received in 2022.

The trust was rated as requires improvement by inspectors last year, having been previously placed in special measures.

Ms McLennan's daughter Rebecca was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020 and died in her flat in Ipswich in November last year.

She had about a year of care from NSFT which her mother said included a "catalogue of failings".

"The failings that she has experienced have been the subject of many [other] prevention of future death [reports] for the last 11 years," she said.

"These are not new things."

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Rebecca McLellan, who had bipolar disorder, died at her flat in Ipswich in November 2023

Ms McLennan was one of 14 campaigners who joined the meeting in Westminster - according to the group - which was also attended by about 10 MPs from the two counties.

"I think some of them were really engaged and listened and stayed behind to talk to us individually which was really positive," Ms McLennan continued.

"There are a couple of immediate changes they're talking about that could make some real change - I can only hope.

"This is not our first trip here. This is a new set of MPs so we're almost starting at the beginning again which is a bit frustrating but we have to hope and we have to keep going."

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Chairman of the campaign, Mark Harrison, said he was pleased MPs were listening

Mark Harrison, chairman of the campaign, said it was the first time many new MPs had the opportunity to hear from affected families.

"The fact they were in the room and they were listening is a positive thing," he said.

"Whether things change, the jury is still out."

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Jack Abbott, Ipswich's MP, attended the campaign group's meeting alongside other Suffolk and Norfolk MPs

Labour MP for Ipswich Jack Abbott helped arrange the meeting.

"We've heard absolutely harrowing stories," he said.

"I don't want to hear those stories anymore, I don't want families and campaigners having to keep coming down to London, to Westminster, banging on the door demanding change."

The group also met with the NHS and regulators in Ipswich on Tuesday.

Cath Byford, deputy chief executive officer at NSFT, said the campaign committee helped the trust "improve future patient care and services" and that it met with them regularly.

"We continue to work closely with them and have found the feedback and insight they have given to our improvement work - to help shape future services - valuable," she added.

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