The Lampard Inquiry, which is chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard, opened the hearings at the Civic Centre in Chelmsford, Essex.

The inquiry is examining deaths at NHS children and adult inpatient units at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) and other organisations that existed between 2000 and 2023.

Paul Scott, chief executive of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘I want to say how sorry I am to anyone who has lost a loved one or whose care has not been of the standard it should have been.  I welcome the Lampard Inquiry and we will do all we can to support Baroness Lampard and the team to deliver the answers that families and patients are seeking.'

A spokesperson for NELFT said: ‘We will continue to work with the inquiry to help families understand the circumstances surrounding the loss of their loved ones. Patient safety is our absolute priority and we are committed to learning from the work of the inquiry to improve the provision of mental healthcare.'

The inquiry was converted into a statutory inquiry on 27 October 2023 with the final Terms of Reference published on 10 April 2024 following a four-week consultation.

The public hearings mark the launch of Phase 3 of the inquiry which will be followed by the publication of a report.