With the publication of the NHS England commissioned report on the NHS treatment of Valdo Calocane there is renewed urgency for the Public Inquiry promised in July 2024 to begin in earnest.
The report, carried out by Theemis Consulting, underlines repeated failures by multiple Government agencies which led to the tragic deaths of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates.
At a Press Conference on Wednesday 5th February, Emma Webber, Barnaby’s mother, said the following:
Without the ‘noise’ we have had to make, without the support and guidance we have received from our legal and support team I am certain that our story, this tragedy, and this disgraceful miscarriage of justice would have been, as I suspect the agencies and CPS had hoped, brushed under the carpet, and any ‘failings’ neatly added to the ‘lessons will be learnt’ category.
This latest report is yet more evidence of catastrophic failure, to add to the pile of others. Of those completed, most are wholly inadequate. None of them provide clarity or the full truth.
There are huge gaps, omissions and unanswered questions. Why is there no individual or organisational accountability.
Enough is enough. It is shameful that we should have had to fight so hard, against public agencies and institutions that should be here to protect us. Have the respect to admit failure, accept the consequences, but most importantly make the change NOW that is desperately needed to keep the public safe.
To the Prime Minister and the rest of the government.
Make this trauma and fight stop now.
Yes, you have confirmed there will be a public inquiry BUT agree the terms, as we have been pleading for.
Make it statutory. All of the agencies, organisations, institutions and, vitally, individuals then must attend and must tell the truth.