The families of two teenage girls who died at a mental health hospital described their situation as a 'double-edged sword' after inquests into their deaths were suspended. Christie Harnett and Nadia Sharif, both 17, died in 2019 while patients at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, a facility that was subsequently closed due to being deemed 'chaotic and unsafe' by regulators. The coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Crispin Oliver, confirmed on Wednesday that the inquests, originally scheduled for November 2026, would be paused awaiting a government public inquiry.
This decision comes seven months after the then-Health Secretary, West Streeting, announced in December 2025 that a public inquiry would be held into the failings of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) NHS Trust. The trust operated West Lane Hospital and other sites across County Durham and Teesside. While a secretary has been appointed for the inquiry, a chair – expected to be a senior judge – and the full terms of reference are yet to be established. Coroner Oliver indicated that the public inquiry's scope would likely be far broader than that of an inquest, aiming to avoid duplication.
Speaking outside court, Michael Harnett, Christie's father, expressed that the suspension was 'horrible' and extended their seven-year wait for answers, yet also conceded it was 'good and bad news'. Christie's grandmother, Casey Tremain, echoed this sentiment, calling it 'hard to take' but a 'double-edged sword'. She highlighted that inclusion in a public inquiry could potentially bring 'a higher level of information' to light, justifying the coroner's decision to suspend the inquests for now.
Despite the potential for a more comprehensive investigation, the delay has left families feeling 'in limbo'. They had been preparing for some form of resolution with the November inquests. Christie, from Newton Aycliffe, died in June 2019, and Nadia, from Middlesbrough, in August of the same year. An inquest into the death of another patient and friend of Christie's, 18-year-old Emily Moore, is currently underway, where evidence has underscored the hospital's unsafe environment.
The protracted wait for answers is disheartening for all affected families, but they remain resolute. Christie's grandmother affirmed their commitment, stating, 'We are absolutely not going to stop, because justice is needed for all of these deaths.' The coroner has indicated that if there is 'no progress towards' the public inquiry 'within a reasonable time', he would consider resuming the inquests.