Police investigating the deaths of 25 mental health patients across Essex are set to report back their findings to the families involved.

Since January last year, Essex Police has been carrying out an investigation into the deaths at nine mental health units which were run by the North Essex Partnership Trust.

The trust has since merged with the South Essex Partnership Trust, to form the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

The investigation was sparked after new allegations surrounding the death of Matthew Leahy, from Bradwell, came to light.

He died at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford in November 2012.

An inquest into the 20-year-old’s death found there had been “multiple failings” at the centre.

Essex Police has now written to the families, including Matthew’s mum Melanie Leahy, inviting them to a meeting to discuss the outcome.

Mrs Leahy, of Tolleshunt Knights, has fought for an independent inquiry into his death and improvements to safeguarding measures at the centre to prevent further deaths.

She said: “This has been along torturous experience.

“I cannot get my head around what a lengthy and incredibly cruel process all of this is has been.

“I pray that all my hard work will pay off and we can achieve some accountability.”

Mrs Leahy believes there must be routine independent investigations into deaths of psychiatric patients and this must be followed by an independent review of any recommendations made to ensure they are addressed.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Since January 2017, we have been carrying out an investigation into the circumstances of a number of patient deaths involving those in the care of the North Essex Partnership University Trust (now known as the Essex Partnership University Trust or Eput).

“We have written to the families of the individuals concerned to invite them to a meeting to update them on the outcome of our investigation.

“We will not be commenting any further until after that meeting has taken place.”

A spokesman for the trust added: “We have co-operated fully with the police investigation into a number of patient deaths under the care of the former NEP.

“Until the outcome of the investigation is known we are unable to comment further. “