I buried my son and partner - I want answers

A woman whose son and partner both died following failures in their care under NHS services in Essex has said she will not stop fighting for answers.

An inquest concluded there were several missed opportunities to assess 81-year-old Colin Flatt's mental capacity before he fell from height at hospital in July 2021.

His partner, Melanie Leahy, told the BBC: "I haven't just been let down, my family has been wiped out." Her son Matthew Leahy died at a mental health unit in 2012.

A spokesperson for the NHS mental health trust in Essex said it would take a "careful note" of the recent inquest conclusions.

Melanie Leahy spearheaded the successful campaign to launch England's first independent statutory public inquiry into mental health services, which has been ongoing since 2024.

It is examining the deaths of more than 2,000 people who died while under the care of NHS mental health services in Essex between 2000 and the end of 2023.

"Both of my boys, I've buried - my life is destroyed [and] I'm having to rebuild it," said Leahy.

Colin Flatt was described during the recent inquest as a fit and active man, who played football professionally, which included stints at Cambridge United, Leyton Orient and Southend United.

In May 2021, he was suffering from memory loss and was admitted to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford with a low heart rate.

He was assessed by the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Flatt was transferred to Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, east London - after incidents of "violence and aggression" - and was detained under the Mental Health Act.

On Wednesday, the 10-man jury at Essex Coroner's Court concluded there was a missed opportunity when a mental health tribunal approved his discharge from Goodmayes in June 2021.

The following month, after being admitted to Basildon Hospital, Flatt stabbed himself with scissors in the abdomen and climbed over a landing.

He fell about 5m (16ft) on to a glass table and died in the September.

Jurors concluded there were other failures, including the lack of referral to a specialist mental health team and a handover failure when he was admitted to Basildon Hospital.

"Colin was poorly, Colin was confused, Colin was absolutely petrified and I don't think for once he was treated as a person," said Melanie Leahy.

She said not all her questions were answered at the two-week inquest.

"I don't want to hear recommendations and lessons learnt. I want to know who is going to take responsibility," she said.

Melanie Leahy's son died while he was an inpatient at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford.

A health ombudsman concluded there were a long list of failures in Matthew Leahy's care and EPUT said his care "fell below acceptable standards".

The campaigner said the Lampard Inquiry was her last chance for answers.

"I don't want this to happen to another family," she said.

"I have to do it - Colin fought with me and stood beside me and saw what Matthew's death did to me - not knowing that he would also be part of his fight.

"For me to stop now, would be an insult to both of them."

An EPUT spokesperson said: "All of us across healthcare have a responsibility to work together to improve care and treatment for all, and to take careful note of the coroner's conclusions."

Former EPUT chief executive Paul Scott has previously apologised for the failings in Flatt's care.

Christine Blanshard, the chief medical officer at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basildon Hospital, said it had acted on recommendations made following Flatt's death.

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