Melanie Leahy's son's death was one of two cases that prompted the public inquiryThe government is actively considering whether to give full legal powers to an independent inquiry investigating the deaths of mental health patients.The BBC understands Conservative Health Secretary Stephen Barclay is minded to make the inquiry statutory, which would compel witnesses to come forward.
"We still have a long way to go and even when we do get it, there will still be a lot of work to do."Dr Geraldine Strathdee is expected to meet Conservative Health Secretary Stephen Barclay after the Easter break She is assessing deaths dating between 2000 and 2020 of patients receiving care from EPUT, and the former North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.Campaigners calling for a statutory inquiry, pictured in November 2022, have repeatedly demonstrated outside Essex Coroner's Court
Mr Barclay and Neil O'Brien, minister for primary care and public health, met local Essex MPs about the inquiry on Wednesday, saying they said they were minded to upgrade the investigation and were actively considering it.