Mental health in Norfolk and Suffolk a 'high priority' says government

Concerns were raised in January about safety at the Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust

The Department of Health and Social Care (DOHSC) has met leaders of an under pressure mental health trust following a plea for a public inquiry.

The chairman of the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee called for an inquiry into Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) in January.

Fran Whymark detailed concerns about "ongoing safety" at the trust.

The DOHSC said it was "committed" to ensuring progress was made. Previously, NSFT said it was making improvements.

The pace of delivering changes within NSFT had been "frustrating" and "disappointing", Mr Whymark, a Conservative councillor said in a letter to the secretary of state in January, on behalf of the committee.

In a response letter, seen by the BBC, government minister Maria Caulfield said improving mental health support in Norfolk and Suffolk was a "high priority".

Mr Whymark wrote to the Secretary of State for Health in January asking for a public inquiry

Ms Caulfield, parliamentary under secretary of state for mental health and women's health strategy, said: "We take these concerns very seriously."

She said she had recently spoken to families of some people who lost their lives while under the care of the trust and also met the trust and partner agencies to discuss an improvement plan.

"It is vital that the trust fully recognises and learns from any past failings in care to improve mental health services across Norfolk and Suffolk and protect patients in the future," she said.

Last year, an independent report by auditors Grant Thornton found that NSFT had lost track of figures for patient deaths.

Earlier this month, two coroners said the trust had failed to allay concerns about care raised in the deaths of two patients.

In March, the trust announced plans that included improving how it recorded mortality data, and earlier this year declared a "comprehensive review" of prevention of future death reports from 2013 to 2024 was under way. The trust previously claimed a public inquiry would compromise services.

NSFT confirmed a meeting took place between Maria Caulfield, Norfolk and Suffolk MPs and the trust last month, with a follow up meeting scheduled for May.

A DOHSC spokesperson said: "We take these concerns very seriously and are committed to ensuring that significant progress is made in Norfolk and Suffolk to ensure that mental health services are of the highest standard.

"Minister Caulfield has met, and will continue to meet, a range of campaigners, local stakeholders, as well as the trust and delivery partners to ensure progress on the trust's improvement plan."