Emily Townsend

Health Service Journal • 14th October 2026

Inquiry trust told to act on rise in inpatient deaths

By Emily Townsend2026-10-14T09:10:00Commissioners have demanded an action plan after an “increase of inpatient deaths” at a mental health trust already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths. By Emily Townsend2026-10-14T09:10:00 Commissioners have demanded an action plan after an “increase of inpatient deaths” at a mental health trust already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths.

Health Service Journal • 6th October 2026

‘Organisational shame’ driving defensive behaviour at inquiry trust

By Emily Townsend2026-10-06T03:23:00Staff at a trust subject to a statutory inquiry are paralysed by fear, a review has discovered. By Emily Townsend2026-10-06T03:23:00 Staff at a trust subject to a statutory inquiry are paralysed by fear, a review has discovered.

Health Service Journal • 20th July 2026

I was told to close down 4,000 safety reports, claims manager

By Emily Townsend2026-07-20T03:57:00A senior NHS manager told an inquiry into more than 2,000 deaths he was asked to remove thousands of outstanding safety incident reports while his trust was in the middle of the probe. By Emily Townsend2026-07-20T03:57:00 A senior NHS manager told an inquiry into more than 2,000 deaths he was asked to remove thousands of outstanding safety incident reports while his trust was in the middle of the probe.

Health Service Journal • 6th July 2026

CEO admits underestimating requirements of deaths inquiry

By Emily Townsend2026-07-06T16:40:00A trust has been slow to provide records to an inquiry examining more than 2,000 deaths, because it underestimated the resources needed, its former CEO has admitted. By Emily Townsend2026-07-06T16:40:00 A trust has been slow to provide records to an inquiry examining more than 2,000 deaths, because it underestimated the resources needed, its former CEO has admitted.

Health Service Journal • 12th March 2026

Streeting admits another cut to mental health spend share

By Emily Townsend2026-03-12T15:15:00The proportion of the NHS budget spent on mental healthcare will be cut for the third year in a row, the health secretary has admitted. By Emily Townsend2026-03-12T15:15:00 The proportion of the NHS budget spent on mental healthcare will be cut for the third year in a row, the health secretary has admitted.

Health Service Journal • 9th March 2026

Nearly 300 patients to be moved from ‘unacceptable’ hospital

By Emily Townsend2026-03-09T16:22:00NHS England has ordered the removal of nearly 300 patients from a mental health provider’s flagship hospital amid major safety concerns and a police probe. By Emily Townsend2026-03-09T16:22:00 NHS England has ordered the removal of nearly 300 patients from a mental health provider’s flagship hospital amid major safety concerns and a police probe.

Health Service Journal • 28th January 2026

Inquiry examining thousands of deaths will not report until 2028

By Emily Townsend2026-01-28T06:11:00A high-profile inquiry into mental health deaths will not be complete until at least 2028, after its chair announced a delay to its timeline. By Emily Townsend2026-01-28T06:11:00 A high-profile inquiry into mental health deaths will not be complete until at least 2028, after its chair announced a delay to its timeline.

Health Service Journal • 27th November 2025

'Parity' rule disparaged as ‘micromanagement’ by government

By Emily Townsend2025-11-27T13:32:00The spending rule designed to ensure that mental health services received an equal share of NHS funding growth has been criticised by the government as an example of “command and control micromanagement”. By Emily Townsend2025-11-27T13:32:00 The spending rule designed to ensure that mental health services received an equal share of NHS funding growth has been criticised by the government as an example of “command and control micromanagement”.

Health Service Journal • 26th November 2025

Exclusive: Government accused of ‘weakening’ spend on service at ‘breaking point’

By Emily Townsend2025-11-26T12:13:00Mental health spending will only rise in line with inflation under new NHS England proposals, HSJ has learned, in what sector leaders have described as a “weakening” of funding protections. By Emily Townsend2025-11-26T12:13:00 Mental health spending will only rise in line with inflation under new NHS England proposals, HSJ has learned, in what sector leaders have described as a “weakening” of funding protections.

Health Service Journal • 5th November 2024

‘Tension’ and ‘poor behaviours’ uncovered on trust’s board

By Emily Townsend2024-11-05T12:50:00The board of a mental health trust grappling with serious culture and safety concerns is “not functioning well”, an NHS England investigation has found, amid the early departure of its chair. By Emily Townsend2024-11-05T12:50:00 The board of a mental health trust grappling with serious culture and safety concerns is “not functioning well”, an NHS England investigation has found, amid the early departure of its chair.

Health Service Journal • 14th October 2024

‘Dangerous’ people should not be admitted to specialist beds, warns CEO

By Emily Townsend2024-10-14T11:40:00Police should work with mental health services to ensure people who pose a danger to society — and show no signs of being mentally unwell — are not inappropriately admitted to rarely available specialist beds, a chief executive has said. By Emily Townsend2024-10-14T11:40:00 Police should work with mental health services to ensure people who pose a danger to society — and show no signs of being mentally unwell — are not inappropriately admitted to rarely avai...

HSJ Health Check podcast 🎙️ via SoundCloud • 13th September 2024

Inquiries - who are they for?

Guest host Ben Clover is joined by Emily Townsend and Zoe Tidman to look at the first weeks of the Thirlwall inquiry into the management response neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester, the Lampard inquiry into the d… Guest host Ben Clover is joined by Emily Townsend and Zoe Tidman to look at the first weeks of the Thirlwall inquiry into the management response neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester, the Lampard inquiry into the d…

Health Service Journal • 21st August 2024

Trust to review year-long waiters after woman’s death

By Emily Townsend2024-08-21T04:20:00A mental health trust will review patients not seen by its services for more than a year after a woman died having waited 13 months for a follow-up appointment. By Emily Townsend2024-08-21T04:20:00 A mental health trust will review patients not seen by its services for more than a year after a woman died having waited 13 months for a follow-up appointment.

Health Service Journal • 5th June 2024

Suicide risks found in nearly half A&E and mental health wards

Nearly half of hospital inspections for emergency departments and mental health wards have raised concerns over ligature risks for vulnerable patients, HSJ analysis has found.

Health Service Journal • 26th March 2024

Patient experience is often ‘horrendously poor’ admits trust CEO

A trust chief executive has warned of the “dire” economic challenge facing his system, saying children and young people are already facing “horrendously poor” experiences.

Health Service Journal • 14th November 2023

Mental Health Matters: Life and death decisions

You need to be signed in to read more

Health Service Journal • 31st October 2023

Mental Health Matters: Ministers and ICBs told to act on ‘baby blind spot’

Sign up to our premium ‘Insights’ package to access this content - Subscribe now HSJ provides you with a clear and unbiased view of what’s happening now and what’s coming up, locally and nationally within the healthcare sector. Our premium ‘Insights’ package includes: Already a subscriber and would like to upgrade to an Insights subscription? Please contact Customer Services or your Corporate Account Manager. Email customerservices@hsj.co.uk or call us today on 020 8955 7055

Health Service Journal • 26th October 2023

NHSE refusal to take ownership of struggling service is ‘complete failure of leadership’

No senior NHS England director is prepared to take responsibility for ADHD services – which are facing waits of up to a decade and severe medication shortages – HSJ has discovered.

Health Service Journal • 17th October 2023

Mental Health Matters: What shadow ministers promised in Liverpool

You need to be signed in to read more

Health Service Journal • 17th October 2023

Two trusts to miss deadline for eliminating ‘distressing’ wards

At least two trusts are set to fall short on a high-profile pledge to eradicate ‘dormitory’ style wards in mental health facilities, with delays caused by cost pressures and shortage of materials and labour.