Sam Cook from Witham, Essex, who lost three people connected to mental health, including her sister Paula Parretti, said Scott’s departure at this moment was “a disgrace”.
“The amount of stuff that’s happened [over the 24-year scope of the inquiry], how is someone going to come in and catch up on all of that?” the 41-year-old asked.
Her thoughts were echoed by Emma Harley, 46, from Saffron Walden, who lost her brother Terry White in 2019.
“My immediate reaction is it’s a cowardly move,” she told the BBC.
“It reeks of everything that’s been wrong in the system,” she added.
EPUT has repeated its apology to bereaved families and said that lessons would be learned.
A spokesperson for the trust said its deputy chief executives Alex Green and Trevor Smith would lead on an interim basis, and that supporting the Lampard Inquiry would remain “a key priority” for them and the board.
Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, the chair of EPUT, thanked Scott for his leadership over the last six years, saying he had “overseen a programme of improvement and transformation, putting patients and carers at the heart of the trust”.
“He has been an inspirational leader for us, driven by our shared values at all times,” she added.