Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care
Require pre-inquest investigation into all unexplained NHS mental health deaths
Closed
786 signatures
What the petition asks
Legally require that each and every unexplained death that happens in NHS mental health and learning disability facilities is fully investigated by a completely independent external body before the coroner's inquest.
When unexplained deaths (for which the cause of death is not given or known) happen in NHS mental health or learning disability facilities, they may only be subject to an internal pre-inquest investigation within the NHS.
Deaths that happen in prisons and police custody are subject to independent pre-inquest investigations. Why should deaths in mental health facilities, where innocent and vulnerable people are sent for their own safety, not be subject to at least the same level of scrutiny?
Deaths that happen in prisons and police custody are subject to independent pre-inquest investigations. Why should deaths in mental health facilities, where innocent and vulnerable people are sent for their own safety, not be subject to at least the same level of scrutiny?
Timeline
| 28 Sep 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 28 Mar 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
786
Status
Closed
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
Opened
28 Sep 2020
Closed
28 Mar 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.