Bereaved parents who say they have been denied core participant status at a statutory public inquiry examining the deaths of almost 2,000 mental health patients plan to protest outside the venue.

The Lampard Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Kate Lampard, will investigate the deaths of people who were receiving mental health inpatient care in Essex between 2000 and 2023.

This will include people who died within three months of discharge, and those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care in the independent sector.

Lisa Bates (right) with her daughter Tillie King who died in 2020 aged 21. (Lisa Bates/ PA)
Lisa Bates (right) with her daughter Tillie King who died in 2020 aged 21 (Lisa Bates/PA)

The inquiry is due to begin in Chelmsford on Monday, and some parents plan to protest outside on its first day.

Lisa Bates, 57, whose daughter Tillie King died in 2020 aged 21, said it was “so unfair” that she had been refused core participant status and she would be protesting on Monday.

The special status grants participatory rights, including being able to suggest lines of questioning via counsel to the inquiry.

It also allows disclosure of evidence which the chairwoman considers is relevant to their participation, the opportunity to make opening and closing statements via legal representatives and being provided with advance copies of the inquiry’s reports.

Tillie King, who had struggled with her mental health, died in 2020. (Lisa Bates/ PA)
Tillie King, who had struggled with her mental health, died in 2020 (Lisa Bates/PA)

A person does not need to be designated as a core participant in order to provide information or evidence to the inquiry or to be a witness during its proceedings.

Ms Bates said her daughter “missed an appointment because she was in a manic episode” and “because of that, when she died she just missed the three month mark that they are allowing”.

She said she found her daughter in her bedroom in Brentwood, Essex, on March 8 2020 and a coroner concluded that her death was drink and drug related.

Ms King first became involved with mental health services aged 13, her mother said.

Tillie's mother Lisa Bates is to protest outside the Lampard Inquiry in Chelmsford after being refused core participant status. (Lisa Bates/ PA)
Tillie’s mother Lisa Bates is to protest outside the Lampard Inquiry in Chelmsford after being refused core participant status (Lisa Bates/PA)

She said she found out through her solicitors that she had not been given core participant status in the inquiry.

“I don’t understand it, it’s just not fair,” said Ms Bates, who works at a mortuary.

She added that “they are not getting a true look at what’s going on in the community”.

“Tillie was, still is I say, an amazing person,” she said.

“That showed actually in her death because so many people reached out, she touched so many people… she was a cat lover, she loved animals and she wanted to go and volunteer at our local animal sanctuary,” she said.

“She was a really lovely girl, it’s such a shame she was so troubled and they never got to the reason or the cause of it.”

Tillie King's mother said she loved animals. (Lisa Bates/ PA)
Tillie King’s mother said she loved animals (Lisa Bates/PA)

Kobad Bankwala, 68, said he felt he had been “left out completely and forgotten”, having been refused core participant status, and he would also be protesting on Monday.

His son Darian Bankwala was 22 years old when he was hit by a train and killed near Wickford station in Essex on December 27 2020 having struggled with his mental health for years.

He had been discharged in July 2020 despite being unwell, Mr Bankwala said.

He said he knew from when his son was two years old that “something was wrong”, and he has “fought” with institutions for years.

Tillie was described as an 'amazing person'. (Lisa Bates/ PA)
Tillie was described as an ‘amazing person’ (Lisa Bates/ PA)

Mr Bankwala said he wanted core participant status at the inquiry so he could suggest questions to ask of witnesses, adding: “I do not want this opportunity missed.”

“This is my inquiry, this is our money, this is the taxpayer’s money,” said Mr Bankwala, who used to work in telecoms and is now retired.

He said his son was a “very gentle person, very gentle as a young person, very kind and very polite” but was “very disturbed”.

“There was no help for us, there was no help for him,” he said.

Priya Singh, partner at Hodge Jones & Allen that represents more than 120 victims and families, said: “With regards to those families who have been refused core participant status, they have also fought tooth and nail to bring this inquiry to fruition. They feel like they have been abandoned and betrayed.

“Without their relentless campaigning there simply wouldn’t be an inquiry, an inquiry that is paramount to saving future lives and ascertaining how a care service has seen over 2,000 unexplained deaths.

“In some cases, we see no legal reason as to why they have not been granted this core participant status.

“We urge the inquiry to reconsider their decision. Every death, act of abuse and harm matters and should form part of this investigation so the right recommendations can be implemented to end the systemic failings.”