THE chairman of a panel investigating a NHS Trust  has condemned "truly shocking" intimidating messages sent to a witness.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust is under scrutiny after a report looking into the deaths of five patients between 2011 and 2015 found “significant failures”.

As reported, a public inquiry chaired by Nigel Pascoe QC began on March 4 this year.

But at the beginning of the hearing held this morning, Mr Pascoe said there "must be no further attempts of any kind to intimidate, abuse or harass future witnesses".

It comes as he said the panel was made aware of  "truly shocking" messages directed to a woman who gave evidence at the hearings earlier this month.

Mr Pascoe said the witness is a Southern Health employee and the intimidating messages came from members of the public. 

He said the messages he referred to " came from three Twitter accounts", but he did not disclose any further details.

Mt Pascoe added: "The panel do not think it would be proper to name them. However, the view of the panel is that, taken as a whole, those messages, sent to a witness, are totally unacceptable, damaging and deeply disturbing. That is indefensible. They appear to have been targeted both to intimidate and to demean the recipient."

He said any intimidation should be brought to the attention of the panel.

He also said the messages received by the witness caused her distress.

Mr Pascoe  added: "We are of the strong view that if they were made public any reasonable  member of the public would be outraged."

The news comes as the inquiry is expected to end on April 16.

The hearings will be looking into the handling of complaints at Southern Health as well as a number of policy including communication with families and patients.

Last year Mr Pascoe looked into the deaths of five Southern Health patients between 2011 and 2015 and found “significant, serious and deeply regrettable failures”.

Talking at the start of the hearing earlier this month he  said there had been “insensitive and inappropriate communication” with family members.

But he said he also recognised the "fresh and important work" the trust had begun to do.

In January 2020 the Care and Quality Commission  judged Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust as “good”.