MPs are being challenged to "step up" after labelling the region's mental health trust "the worst performing trust in the country" in Westminster.

Last Thursday, during a Westminster Hall debate on ‘Improving support for mental health,' Ipswich MP Jack Abbott raised concerns about the number of unexpected deaths at Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT).

The independent audit last year found more than 8,440 cases had been reported as 'unexpected deaths' among its patients over three years.

The trust had struggled with poor performance, having been in special measures four times in the last decade.

In response to Mr Abbott's comments, Caroline Donovan CEO of NSFT said that she is working to improve the performance of the trust and the latest Care Quality Commission report does reflect that - but added there is much to do.

Mr Abbott called the trust the worst in the country. Mr Abbott called the trust the worst in the country.  (Image: Parliament TV)

During his speech, Mr Abbott said: "My constituents in Ipswich, under the Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Trust, suffer a particularly desperate service in an already broken system.

“Since its creation in 2012 the NSFT has been, and arguably still is, the worst performing mental health trust in the whole country."

He added that NSFT had moved from inadequate to requires improvement in the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) report, but it still does not meet the standards his constituents require. 

Mr Harrison called for further campaigning.Mr Harrison called for further campaigning.  (Image: Tristan Conor Hold)However, Mr Harrison said that while he agrees with Mr Abbott's comments, the MPs should be doing more to campaign on these grounds. 

"The new MPs that were elected in July need to step up, and hold the government and the minister to account because it's their constituents that are dying," the chair of the campaign group said. 

"So I am glad Jack Abbott spoke up, but it has been a long time since he was in contact with us, so I am very concerned about their level of complacency.

"They should be knocking on the minister's door and demanding extra funding, and acting to get rid of this trust and replace it with a functioning mental health system."

Mr Abbott has agreed to meet the campaign group in Westminister later this year. Mr Abbott has agreed to meet the campaign group in Westminster later this year.  (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2009) After this paper approached the Ipswich MP, a meeting has been set up with the campaign group to meet in Westminster later this year. 

The Ipswich MP has also requested a meeting with the relevant Minister from the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss the route forward for improving mental health care in Suffolk and has vouched to keep the campaign on these grounds. 

Ms Donovan said she has place a five-year plan to improve the services. Ms Donovan said she has placed a five-year plan to improve the services.  (Image: Daniel Lightening Photography/NSFT) Caroline Donovan CEO of NSFT said that she is working to improve the performance of the trust and the latest Care Quality Commission report does reflect that. 

“Since joining the Trust at the end of last year, I have developed a new five-year strategy with four strategic priorities; Improving Health, Improving Care, Improving Culture and Improving Value at our Trust," she said. 

"Clinical and non-clinical teams have examined over 12,000 deaths that have occurred since April 2019 and identified recurring themes linked to unexpected, unnatural deaths."

She agreed that the trust has "much more to do" but is dedicated to providing better mental health services that patients deserve.