Image source, Family Handout

A mental health unit criticised over the deaths of three teenagers was "chaotic and unsafe", a report found.

An independent inquiry found "excessive and inappropriate" restraint was used at Middlesbrough's West Lane Hospital.

The environment "facilitated self-harm", said patients, and staff were told not to intervene unless it was likely to be fatal.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) apologised and said significant changes had been made.

The report followed the deaths of Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif, both 17, and Emily Moore, 18, who took their own lives in an eight-month period up to February 2020 under the trust's care.

West Lane, which closed following the deaths, provided specialist child and adolescent mental health services, including treatment for eating disorders.

Tuesday's report was commissioned by NHS England and undertaken by Niche Health and Social Care Consulting. It found "clear synergies" between care failings delivered to all three.

It is the latest in a series of reports which identified failings.

Image source, Google

The report's authors spoke to former patients, their parents and staff as well as the families of the three teenagers who died.

It found a "consistent failure to put the young people at the heart of care".

Young people inter. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.

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