A MENTAL health trust boss's departure before a public inquiry into hundreds of deaths had finished has been described as "profoundly concerning".

Melanie Leahy, whose son Matthew died while in the care of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), has said the decision from chief executive Paul Scott to move on to a new job before the conclusion of the Lampard Inquiry said it "only deepens families' concerns" about senior NHS leadership in the county.

Mr Scott will take over from the retiring Nick Hulme at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) in July, taking over responsibility for Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.

But Ms Leahy says Mr Scott, who was made CEO of EPUT in 2020, should stay while the Lampard Inquiry – an independent statutory inquiry investigating around 2,000 deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex between 2000 and 2023 – is ongoing.

Melanie, whose son Matthew died aged 20 while in the care of EPUT in 2012, said: "I find it profoundly concerning that the current Chief Executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is stepping down in the middle of a public inquiry.

"It raises a very serious question. Why now? At a time when the Trust is under scrutiny, and families are finally seeking answers through the Lampard Inquiry, this is not a neutral or routine decision. The fact that he is moving on to lead another Trust only deepens those concerns.

"Why did he not remain in post to see this through? Why step away at such a critical moment? Over the past two decades, we have seen a succession of Chief Executives come and go. That pattern, in itself, demands examination. Leadership cannot simply rotate while accountability is left behind.

"Let me be clear. No one connected to this period can simply walk away. Mr Scott, along with those who led before him, will be expected to account for what happened under their leadership. Families have fought too long for the truth for it to be diluted or avoided now."

She added: "We've also got lots of other staff who have left. They'll need to be brought back in. Their responsibility doesn't just disappear the minute they leave the trust.

"It's essential their actions are fully examined, their evidence is still properly tested, and their accountability is not lost. There must not be another moment when those responsible move on without answers being given."

Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) Chair, said: "I want to thank Paul for his leadership of the Trust over the last six years, where he has overseen a programme of improvement and transformation, putting patients and carers at the heart of the Trust. He has been an inspirational leader for us, driven by our shared values at all times. EPUT has benefited greatly from his time with us. My Board colleagues and I wish him every success in his new role.

"I am confident that Alex Green and Trevor Smith jointly becoming our interim CEOs will provide the leadership and skills to enable us to achieve our ambitious plans for patient-centred care across all services."