An MP has called for an independent inquiry into a local health trust after a new report exposed “damaging and shocking” failures before the deaths of three teenagers. 

Andy McDonald MP for Middlesbrough called for the judge-led review into mental health provision at Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Trust (TEWV) in response to the tragic deaths of three girls between 2019-2020. 

Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore all attended West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, which was managed by TEWV, before their deaths. It closed in 2019. 

A new report, released on Tuesday, revealed shocking details around the use of restraint, the lack of controls around self-harm incidents and a lack of leadership. It comes after three reports into the treatment of the three teenagers were released in November. 

Read more: Teenagers died after 'appalling' care at Durham and Middlesbrough hospitals​

The Northern Echo: Left to right: Nadia Sharif, Emily Moore and Christie Harnett Left to right: Nadia Sharif, Emily Moore and Christie Harnett (Image: The Northern Echo)

The Labour MP said: “This final report reveals just how the entire system, that was supposed to be there to support and protect them, catastrophically and fundamentally failed.

“There can be no confidence in the mental health care provision for our young people until such times as there is a fully independent judge led public inquiry into these catastrophic failings.”

A new board and management team has been installed at the trust since the 2019-2020 deaths but Mr McDonald called for a change in attitude around mental health support. He vowed to “leave no stone unturned” in memory of Christie, Nadia and Emily as he called for an inquiry, adding that “the time for the system to mark its own homework is over”. 

“As a society, we have never devoted enough attention to mental health issues,” he said. 

“In memory of all those who have lost their lives in such circumstances and as an obligation to their families and patients in the future, we must commit to not only learn from these dreadful occurrences but to strive to avoid such failures in the future.”

Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison has worked with Emily's family since her death in campaigning for change. 

"Some good must come from this," said the Conservative. "As a minimum, the recommendations of this report need to be carried out in full. Complaints can no longer be ignored, parents cannot be shut out, and the trust must ensure the negligence that took place at West Lane Hospital is never allowed to happen again.

"I will be monitoring the trust’s conduct closely over the next few months to ensure they do so, and to ensure Emily Moore’s parents are treated with the respect they deserve."

The NHS chief nurse for the region, Margaret Kitching, said Margaret Kitching, the report raises “extremely significant concerns” regarding the care provided. 

Read more: The failures that led to death of three girls at Durham and Middlesbrough hospitals

In response, David Jennings, chair of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to reiterate how deeply sorry we are for the events that contributed to the deaths of Christie, Nadia and Emily. 

“Brent Kilmurray, our chief executive, and I have met each of the young women’s families to apologise to them in person. I thank them for allowing us to do that. I cannot begin to imagine how painful it has been for them. 

“This report covers a period of time where it was abundantly clear there were shortfalls in both care and leadership. Over the last three years, how we care for people, how we involve patients, families and carers, and our leadership and governance structure have changed significantly.

“We will continue to work hard to make sure we deliver safe and kind care to the people we support, as they have every right to expect.”