22 months since LB died. 14 months since the Verita report found his death was preventable. And this week we heard through an unofficial (and plucky) source that staff disciplinary action resulted in (allegedly), er, no action. Yep. Apparently the preventable death of a young dude, a CQC inspection bad enough to remove the enamel off your teeth and no action. There were a few other hand grenades lobbed at us this week (as usual) so not the brightest of times. There’s nothing quite like taking on publicly funded bodies/state agents.

[Some essential skills/capabilities: nerves of steel, humour, dogged determination, resilience, disregard for rules, attention to detail, expertise in wading through shite, reasonable communication skills, and the hide of a rhino. Luckily these skills are dispersed among JusticeforLB campaigners spreading the load and generating a collective (joyous) force for good.]

So where are we at, on the accountability front…? In no particular order:

1. Verita 2 (broader investigation into the local, regional and national context around LB’s death): findings are being shared in a stakeholder group early May. Report should be published before July 4 2015. Jointly commissioned by NHS England and Oxfordshire Adult Safeguarding Board.

2. Mazars death review (investigating all deaths in Sloven learning disability and mental health provision since 2011). Report should be published before July 4 2015. Commissioned by NHS England

3. Police and HSE investigation. Ongoing. We expect an update at the third pre-inquest review meeting on May 19.

4. Staff referral to disciplinary council. Ongoing. Expect an update in the next month or so.

5. The inquest. Currently due to be held on October 5 with two weeks set aside. Issues around witnesses, etc, are to be thrashed out on May 19. The date is subject to change depending on the outcome of the police/HSE investigation.

Wow.

Just wow.

22 months. What a crappy, shocking and sad journey. Lives on hold in an unspeakably distressing space. Offset by the remarkable light generated by #JusticeforLB. We’re on #107days part 2 and the magic continues. Not the daily, wondrous spectacle of last year but we have treatlets lined up that are off the scale of brilliance. Seriously.

Thankfully.