Missed opportunities: What lessons can be learned from failings at the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

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Missed opportunities is our report on the Ombudsman’s investigations into the deaths of two vulnerable young men. We found a series of significant failings in their mental health care and treatment. 

Both of their families suffer the ongoing injustice of knowing that their sons did not receive the standard of care they should have done. This has has caused them unimaginable distress.

We are publishing the report and our recommendations to alert parliament to systemic problems in care and treatment of patients with acute mental health problems at former North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

NHS Improvement has agreed to establish a review in line with our recommendations and will share any learning it identifies across the NHS as needed.

The North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (now merged into the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) has accepted the recommendations. The Trust has committed to continuing to work with us to put things right.

It is important the NHS understands why this happened and what lessons can be learned to prevent it happening again.

ForewordRelated filesDownload Missed opportunities: What lessons can be learned from failings at the NEP University NHS Foundation Trust[.PDF, 357 KB]