The Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) has published an in-depth report covering deaths between 1 April 2019 and October 31 2023.
It follows a commitment by NSFT chief executive Caroline Donovan to investigate the deaths of those who had received care from the trust.
You can read more here
And you can download a full copy of the report here
Responding to the report, Healthwatch Norfolk chief executive Alex Stewart said:
The detail, intelligence and themes revealed in this latest mortality review highlight key themes for the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) to work on.
Communication with patients and families is an issue which we have heard about from both patients and carers.
The formal acknowledgement of this as an issue is welcome, alongside other key themes around staffing, record-keeping and waiting times.
We also welcome the review calling for a joined-up approach to ensure all those across the health and care system can play a role in learning from, and reducing, future premature deaths from mental illness.
Healthwatch Norfolk is already working with carers of those with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) to understand their needs and we are happy to hear from other patients, carers and family members who feel able to share their experiences.
We can then pass these on to decision-makers to ensure there is a detailed picture of experiences which can help shape and refine services.
This does not lessen the pain, trauma and upset that many people in Norfolk who have lost family-members and friends must feel.
The focus of everyone working in health and social care must be to ensure they do all they can to prevent future deaths.
Healthwatch Norfolk will help NSFT and any other partner organisation within health and care to move towards this.
Further help and advice
- Dedicated e-mail address for families who may want any further information about the report. NSFT Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) can be contacted by emailing [email protected]
- A new Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm phoneline is being launched, 01603 518 850
- A dedicated webpage outlining support available is being added to the NSFT website nsft.nhs.uk/bereavement-support
- Norfolk and Waveney Mind bereavement service – ICB commissioned service
- Bereaved by Suicide Service in Suffolk – ICB commissioned service
- If bereaved families would like to get in touch with NSFT to ask anything at all as a result of this report, they can contact their dedicated Family Liaison Officers by email at [email protected] or telephone on 01603 518850 between 9:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday.
