Father Seeks Full Inquest into Daughter’s Death and Care Failures

The father of a teenager who took her own life stresses the critical need for a comprehensive inquest to scrutinize the faults and deficiencies in her care. Emily Moore, originally from Shildon, County Durham, passed away at Durham’s Lanchester Road Hospital in 2020, shortly after her 18th birthday. A hearing was held on Thursday to determine whether a full inquest into Ms Moore’s death should proceed. During this hearing, a spokesperson for the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust asserted that the “care and treatment” she received “had no link to her taking her own life”. Her father, David Moore, stated his pledge to “fight for her until the bitter end”. The hearing revealed that Ms Moore was receiving treatment at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, also operated by the trust, when her close friend died, and she overheard desperate attempts to resuscitate her. West Lane was closed in 2019. Mr Moore indicated that the family desired a “full, public inquiry” following a full inquest, a matter he would “go on about until the day I die”. Paul Greaney KC, representing the trust, acknowledged that the death of her friend might have been in Ms Moore’s thoughts when she took her own life. The trust declared it would not oppose a full inquest, explaining its wish to avoid any perception that it was attempting to inhibit appropriate public scrutiny. Earlier this year, the trust was cleared of charges alleging failure to provide safe care and treatment to Ms Moore, after being taken to court by the Care Quality Commission. The hearing was informed that a criminal investigation had already been conducted, and an independent report commissioned by the NHS had examined the care and treatment she received. Senior assistant coroner Crispin Oliver stated he would require time to carefully consider the issues raised and recognized the strain this situation was placing on Ms Moore’s family. A decision on whether a full inquest will take place is scheduled to be announced in February.