• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Drug dealers ‘delivered crack cocaine to mental health hospital’

Drug dealers ‘delivered crack cocaine to mental health hospital’
Newsexplored
23rd March 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
4
West Park HospitalImage copyright Google
Image caption West Park Hospital in Darlington is one of three mental health hospitals criticised

Drug dealers delivered crack cocaine to vulnerable patients at a mental health hospital, the BBC has been told.

It is one of the claims made by a number of former patients at units run by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which have seen five deaths in less than two years.

The trust has been criticised over its services at three hospitals, including West Lane in Middlesbrough, where three teenage girls died.

The trust said reviews were under way.

One girl admitted to West Park Hospital in Darlington last year told BBC Inside Out: “Definitely the most alarming [thing] was the presence of crack cocaine on the ward.

“There were two ways [to get it]. Either people left and brought it back in with them, or you could ring a dealer and they would come on to the ward and deliver them for you.”

She also said staff were “tipped off” ahead of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.

“They were told in advance what would be happening,” she said.

“Charts that weren’t present before were put up with dates and ticks placed on them, and patients were advised by staff to hide contraband on the day of inspection.”

Image copyright Family handouts
Image caption Teenagers Christie Harnett (left) and Nadia Sharif died at West Lane Hospital

The CQC said the trust was not told when inspections would take place, but did know which services would be looked at.

The former patient also said she saw an agency worker acting inappropriately by massaging a patient’s feet and telling another she was “beautiful”.

data-ad-format="auto">

“It was really quite disturbing and made me feel uncomfortable,” she said.

One girl, who was admitted to West Lane in Middlesbrough with an eating disorder in 2015, said she was still “haunted every day” by the memories of her time there.

“It was a horror story from day one,” she said.

She said patients had access to scissors and wires, and liquids such as nail polish remover or paint which some drank.


Image copyright Google
Image caption The mental health unit at West Lane Hospital closed after a damning CQC inspection

“Even after things like that happened they wouldn’t then be taken away,” she said.

“We would just be told ‘well, if you want to do it that’s up to you’.”

She also said members of staff would ask patients with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia for “diet tips”.

West Lane closed in August after a damning inspection by the CQC.

At Roseberry Park in Middlesbrough, patients told the BBC some staff felt they had a licence to “treat you terribly”.

“They say [you have a] personality disorder, that means they can do whatever they want,” one said.

Image caption Marjorie Wallace said she was appalled by the accounts

Having seen the BBC’s evidence, Marjorie Wallace, CEO of mental health charity Sane, said she was “absolutely appalled” and “the picture of neglect, even amounting to cruelty, means it’s more redolent of the dark ages of the old asylums”.

“The trust should be put into special measures immediately and those involved in all those incidents should be held to account,” Ms Wallace said.

The trust said it was “deeply sorry” that at West Lane it “didn’t provide safe, high quality care”.

A spokesman said the BBC provided too little information for it to respond to the specific allegations made by patients, and a number of reviews and investigations were under way so it would be “inappropriate to discuss or comment” further.

But he urged any patients with concerns to tell the trust, adding: “We take all such views extremely seriously and use what they tell us to improve their care and the care of others.”

You can see more on this story on BBC Inside Out North East & Cumbria on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on Monday 23 March and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscocainecrackdealersdeliveredhealthhospitalmental
UK
23rd March 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscocainecrackdealersdeliveredhealthhospitalmental

More in UK

  • Read More
    Scotland’s papers: Sturgeon ‘on the brink’ and furlough extended

    Views:4 image copyrightThe Herald data-ad-format="auto"> image copyrightScottish Daily Express image copyrightDaily Telegraph image copyrightThe i image copyrightMetro...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Contraception: Should the pill be sold over the counter?

    Views:4 image copyrightThinkstock The government is asking the public whether some contraceptive pills should be sold over...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Furlough extension and ‘last chance for pubs’

    Views:4 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe papers are dominated by news that Chancellor Rishi Sunak will extend...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Furlough support scheme to be extended until September

    Views:4 image copyrightGetty Images The government is to announce it is extending the furlough scheme until the...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Welsh budget 2021: £1.1bn extra confirmed in new spending plans

    Views:4 image captionThe Welsh Government will have just over £17bn to spend in the next financial year...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    In pictures: Scotland’s stunning sunset

    Views:4 People from across Scotland were treated to a stunning sunset on Monday, with a lucky few...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    World Cup 2030: UK and Republic of Ireland associations back UK government support for bid

    Views:4 Wembley Stadium will host the final of Euro 2020 in June 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Tourism hotspots hit hard by Covid-19 jobs crisis

    Views:4 image copyrightReuters Parts of the UK reliant on tourism have been most affected by the Covid-19...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Digital travel passes and ‘prayers for Philip’

    Views:4 By BBC NewsStaff image captionEuropean leaders have pledged that a vaccination passport scheme will be open...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Trainer banned in Britain after dead horse picture

    Views:4 Gordon Elliott has trained more than 140 winners this season and is second to Willie Mullins...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: ‘Race to stop Brazil variant’ and jabs pass 20m

    Views:4 By BBC NewsStaff image captionSeveral of Monday’s papers lead with the mutant Brazilian variant being found...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Glenn Roeder: Former West Ham and Newcastle manager dies aged 65

    Views:4 Roeder’s managerial break came as Gillingham player-manager in 1992 Former Watford, West Ham, Newcastle and Norwich...

    Newsexplored 23rd March 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Super Bowl half-time show: How did The Weeknd do?
    Entertainment8th February 2021
  • Coronavirus: Texas and other states ease rules despite warnings
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Golden Globe Awards 2021: Stars prepare for virtual ceremony
    USA28th February 2021
  • John F Kennedy: When the US president met Africa’s independence heroes
    USA27th February 2021
  • Biden’s Covid stimulus plan: It costs $2tn but what’s in it?
    USA24th February 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Coronavirus to be tracked using its genetic code
Coronavirus: Parents urged not to send children to school
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok