BEREAVED families have withdrawn from a public investigation as they claimed to have been “misled, misrepresented and bullied” by the NHS.

Five Hampshire families, whose loved ones died while in the care of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust , were expected to take part in a series of hearings.

It comes as last year a report which looked into the deaths of some Southern Health patients between 2012 and 2015 found “significant, serious and deeply regrettable failures”.

Nigel Pascoe QC, who was responsible for the independent report,  recommended a limited public investigation to see if the concerns raised have been addressed.

But the bereaved families involved said they have lost “all trust” in the process and described it as “a charade”.

A spokesperson for NHS England and NHS Improvement said to be “disappointed that the families have decided to take this step” and added: “We remain committed to ensuring any lessons are identified and learnt.”

The families are: Ian and Jane Hartley, parents of Edward Hartley, 18, from Wickham, who died in 2014; Angie Mote and Kim Vella, daughters of Marion Munns, 74, from Southampton, who died in 2015; Maureen Rickman, sister of Jo Deering, 52, from New Milton, who died in 2011; Diane Small, mother of Robert Small, 28, from Fareham, who died in 2012; Richard West, father of David West, 28, from Southampton, who died in 2013.

The five families said they were required to comment on the Trust’s current policy.

But they said they expected an “open and transparent investigation”.

In a joint statement the five families said: “This in essence is about being both believed and respected and having the truth of what actually happened to our loved ones formally acknowledged. The inability of the Trust to follow its own procedure is not to be considered further in the proposed hearing.  With a panel heavy with NHS management, is destined to fall far short of what the families have consistently been working to achieve for many years - honest and transparent investigations that facilitate quality improvement in patient safety and safeguarding.”

According to the NHS, the panel “will not look into any individual, specific cases or facts”.

But it will focus on five policy areas including reviewing the need for a new independent investigative process and the handling of complaints

In their statement the families added: “We have lost all trust in those charged with both commissioning and delivering this hearing.  We must remain true to our cause and in honour ofour lost loved ones refuse, through our participation, to legitimise the charade that this hearing has become.”

The families also claimed to have been “gaslighted”- a term which describes emotional abuse by making people question their own thoughts and memories.

Dr Karl Marlowe, chief medical officer at Southern Health, said: “We are saddened to hear that the families have withdrawn from the process but respect their decision. We are fully participating with Stage 2 of the independent review which has been commissioned by NHS England and Improvement. This is an important opportunity to assess the progress made by the Trust since the tragic events of 2011-2015. We encourage anybody who wants to share their experience to contact the Panel directly.”

The hearings are expected to take place between March 4 and April 16.