Leicestershire Police have closed a criminal inquiry into the deaths of three patients linked to Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, concluding there is not enough evidence to pursue charges.
Investigation and conclusion
The force had examined possible offences including corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter in relation to incidents that occurred between September 2020 and July 2021. A statement from police to local media confirmed the file was finalised in March this year, with investigators deciding there was "insufficient evidence" to bring charges.
"insufficient evidence"
None of the three patients has been publicly named by the police. Local reporting indicates one of the deaths involved a patient who absconded from Beaumont Ward at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit, part of Glenfield Hospital, before being found later the same day.
Related employment tribunal and safety concerns
The decision by criminal investigators does not close other avenues of scrutiny. An employment tribunal has separately considered conditions on Beaumont Ward, hearing testimony from a former consultant, Dr Mariam Benaris, who brought a whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claim. The tribunal examined the ward’s working environment during the pandemic when, it heard, the unit was used to admit all new patients as part of the trust’s Covid-19 response.
"toxic"
That tribunal judgment last year described a deterioration in working relationships between consultants and nursing staff and used the term quoted above to characterise the environment on the ward. The hearing also addressed a further patient death on the unit in April 2021.
Practical implications for patients and families
Family members of the three patients have been informed of the outcome, according to local reporting. While the criminal investigation has been discontinued, the facts established in the employment tribunal and any ongoing trust-level or regulator inquiries remain relevant to understanding what occurred and whether systemic changes are required.
- Timeframe: incidents occurred between September 2020 and July 2021.
- Police decision: file completed in March; no charges due to insufficient evidence.
- Separate processes: employment tribunal examined ward culture; regulator or internal reviews may still be active.
The closure of the criminal probe will be a matter of concern for relatives seeking accountability and for local residents who rely on mental health services. It also leaves open questions about what lessons have been learned by the trust and regulators to prevent future tragedies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trust | Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust |
| Unit | Bradgate Mental Health Unit, Glenfield Hospital (Beaumont Ward) |
| Period of incidents | September 2020 – July 2021 |
| Police action | Investigation for corporate manslaughter/gross negligence manslaughter; closed |
| Tribunal findings | Described ward environment as "toxic" in a published judgment |
Leicester and Leicestershire residents will expect clarity from the trust and health regulators about any steps taken to strengthen patient safety, staffing and oversight since the events examined by both the police and the tribunal. Requests for comment from the trust and the Care Quality Commission were not part of the initial report but will be essential to establish whether reforms have been implemented.
For now, families have been notified of the police decision; the outcome highlights the difference between criminal thresholds for prosecution and findings that may arise in employment or regulatory processes.
