Redbridge Council is set to review its health services following a finding of neglect in the death of a 12-year-old, referred to as AA, who had a history of self-harm, low mood, anxiety and enuresis (bed wetting). The review comes after a Regulation 28 notice was issued to the North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) following an inquest into AA's death.
The Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet on Monday 30 June 2025, to discuss the response to the notice, which was issued by His Majesty's Coroner for East London in August 2023. Doug Tanner, Head of Start Well, Redbridge Place Based Partnership, North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB), is scheduled to provide an update on the response to the Regulation 28 notice at the meeting.
The inquest found the cause of death was:
“…a result of suicide, contributed to by neglect…''. and that these failings took place in the context of a very under-resourced Emotional Wellbeing Mental Health Service (
EWMHS)."
To address the under-resourcing of the EWMHS, the Mental Health Investment Standard (MHIS) allocations have been adjusted to bring Redbridge in line with comparator boroughs. According to the Public reports pack for the meeting, NELFT have recruited to permanent clinical posts, including a consultant psychiatrist, a consultant therapist and therapists. Interim roles have also been created to reduce waiting times. Children and Young Peoples Care Co-ordinators have been appointed within Primary Care, and there has been an expansion of community CAMHS practitioners.
The document states that the posts facilitated by the adjusted MHIS allocations have led to a significant improvement in 'throughput, enabling children and young people to either move swiftly through the pathway or be appropriately signposted out of the service.
It also mentions a significant reduction in the number of CYP requiring full initial assessments
. These suggest that throughput and the number of children requiring full initial assessments are measures of effectiveness.