A mental health trust in mid-Essex - and at the centre of a Maldon mum's campaign - has been fined £1.5 million following the deaths of 11 patients between 2004 and 2015.

An investigation by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) – previously known as the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEPUFT) – looked at how it managed environmental risks from fixed potential ligature points in its inpatient wards between October 25, 2004 and March 31, 2015.

EPUT was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, June 16) after pleading guilty at a hearing in November last year.

The sentencing follows an eight-year campaign for justice by families, of which has included inquests, internal investigations, petitions, and protests, and many families say they are still in the dark as to why their loved ones died.

The long-standing campaign has seen the families call, and continue to call, for a statutory public inquiry to look into failings across the county and to hold those in power to account and learn lessons for the future. A statutory public inquiry would build a complete and more comprehensive picture of the failings, they say.

But the Government and minister of state for mental health, suicide prevention and patient safety, Nadine Dorries, have stood by the decision to hold a non-statutory inquiry, which families say, have limited powers and reduced scope. Non-statutory inquiries lack the legal powers to compel witnesses to attend to give evidence under oath.

Melanie Leahy, who lives in Maldon and whose son Matthew died while in the care of the Linden Centre in Chelmsford in 2012, said the fine handed to EPUT "merely represents a slap on the wrist".

Mrs Leahy said: "While I welcome the fine handed down today against EPUT, it merely represents a slap on the wrist for a Trust that has failed and continues to fail countless families across Essex.

"Despite countless investigations and reviews, I am no closer to finding out what caused the death of my son almost nine years ago.

"I once again renew my call on the Government to convert their inquiry into a full statutory inquiry that has the legal powers to compel testimony, under oath.

"My family, and the others failed by the mental health services in Essex cannot settle for anything less.

"We have a duty to find out what led to the deaths of our loved ones, and a duty to ensure lessons are learnt, hopefully sparing other families from the indescribable pain we've been through."

Lisa Morris – whose 20-year-old son Ben died while at the Linden Centre in 2008 – added: "Once again it has been proven that the care given to our loved ones by mental health services in the county was inept.

"However, despite our long campaign, today's sentencing does not bring us justice.

"In the middle of a mental health pandemic, it is crucial that failings must be identified and lessons learnt. Until this happens the Government cannot look the public in the eye and tell them they are serious about mental health."

The families are represented by Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors and supported by the charity INQUEST, which works with the families of state-related deaths and their investigations.

Priya Singh, a solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: "Today's fine of £1.5 million handed to EPUT following the HSE investigation simply highlights the failings of mental health care in Essex.

"While the fine is welcome news, the families are still left with many unanswered questions, and this fine does not represent justice.

"It only scratches the surface of what is going so badly wrong in Essex. The only way to establish the truth of the gross failings in care across Essex mental health services is through holding a full statutory public inquiry.

"We urge Ms Dorries to covert the existing inquiry to a full and comprehensive statutory inquiry."

Selen Cavcav, senior caseworker at INQUEST, said: "This is a damning indictment of a trust which failed so many vulnerable patients in their care.

"If it wasn't for the persistence of the families the chances are these dangerous practices would have never come to light.

"The question which must now be asked is whether it is safe for EPUT to continue to be left in charge of vulnerable patients. The only effective way of answering this question is through a statutory public inquiry."

EPUT chief executive Paul Scott said the trust is committed to doing everything it can to ensure the safest possible care is provided, and that every lesson is learnt.

Mr Scott said: "I would like to express my deepest sympathies and apologies to the families and friends who lost their lives. I am fully committed to ensuring that every lesson is learnt.