Families from across Sussex have formed a support group after claiming their relatives died because of care failings at The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. They are seeking answers, accountability, and safer services for others. The group says the deaths took place under the trust’s care and want a clear path to truth and change.
A group of families who believe their loved ones died ‘because of failings in care’ of The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have come together.
The trust runs mental health and learning disability services across Sussex and nearby areas. When a death occurs in care, families can face a complex process. They must navigate internal reviews, regulator oversight, and, in some cases, a coroner’s inquest. Many relatives say this process can feel isolating without guidance or shared experience.
Families Seek Answers and Change
Members of the new group say they want a full account of what happened to their relatives. They also want changes to staffing, communication, and risk management. While the families’ cases differ, they share a goal: to make sure lessons are learned and applied.
Some are preparing to submit formal complaints to the trust. Others are gathering records for inquests. Several plan to raise issues with regulators. The group offers peer support and practical advice on next steps.
What Happens After a Death in Care
When someone dies while receiving NHS care, several steps can follow. Internal reviews look at clinical decisions, care planning, and incident response. Families can request access to records and meeting notes. If concerns remain, they can take complaints to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
- The coroner may open an inquest to establish how someone died.
- Regulators can review whether services met required standards.
- Trusts can issue action plans to improve safety.
Advocates urge relatives to keep detailed timelines, save correspondence, and ask for written explanations. These simple actions can help clarify what occurred and support any legal or regulatory process.
The Trust and Oversight
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, like other NHS providers, is overseen by the Care Quality Commission. The regulator can inspect services, publish ratings, and require improvements. Integrated care boards also review performance and safety. These bodies aim to make sure trusts meet national standards.
The families want the trust to share evidence of change. They are asking for clearer safety procedures, faster responses to warning signs, and better communication with next of kin. They also want a transparent route for raising new risks that may emerge during reviews.
Broader Pressures on Mental Health Services
Frontline clinicians describe daily pressure from high demand and limited beds. Discharge decisions can be hard when community support is thin. Staff shortages add strain to care planning and handovers. These system issues can increase risk if not well managed.
Experts say better continuity, timely follow-up, and strong risk assessments are key. Small errors in documentation or delayed calls can have large effects. Families argue that simple measures—like clearer crisis plans and faster escalation—could save lives.
What Comes Next
The group plans to map common themes across cases and compare them with national guidance. They intend to present findings to local leaders and regulators. They also want routine meetings with the trust to monitor progress on any action plan.
For many, this effort is about prevention as much as accountability. They hope shared experience can speed up improvements and avoid repeated mistakes. They are also calling for better support for bereaved families, including signposting to advocacy and mental health help.
This developing story turns on two questions: what happened in each case, and what will change now. The families’ call is clear. They want answers, they want safer care, and they want to see those promises kept. The next weeks will show how the trust and oversight bodies respond, and whether the changes match the urgency felt by those who have lost the most.
