Health bosses have promised to review security at Salford’s Meadowbrook mental health unit after a patient climbed onto a 30ft roof and stayed there for eight hours.
Police, fire crews and ambulances blocked off Stott Lane in Salford at 1pm on Monday 1 August after the distressed man made his way onto the roof of the psychiatric unit.
He was finally rescued by Greater Manchester Fire’s 100ft hydraulic aerial platform after eight hours of negotiation by staff and emergency crews.
The patient was walked back inside the facility and was not injured in the course of the stand-off.
Greater Manchester West NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) run services at the 68-bed inpatient unit.
They told SalfordOnline.com this morning that they had “extensive precautions in place” to prevent this kind of activity but that they would be undertaking a review in light of the incident.
Gill Green, Director of Nursing and Operations said: “We are relieved that the situation has come to an end and the individual is now safe.
“I would like to extend my thanks to GMW staff and the emergency services who worked patiently and tirelessly to safeguard this gentleman’s welfare, while he was clearly very distressed.
Ms Green added: “The safety of our patients is our main priority and we will review the circumstances around this event to see if there are any aspects we need to learn from, to further improve on the extensive precautions we already have in place.”
GMW’s psychiatric services at Meadowbrook were rated ‘Good’ in the most recent Care Quality Commission report from 3 June 2016.
Read the full report here
It found staff described the service as busy, and difficulties were reported with “clear lines of vision because of the ward layout making it difficult for staff to observe all areas of the wards”.
Concerns were also raised over staffing levels with “Ward managers acknowledg[ing] some activities and leave were difficult to facilitate because
of the lack of staff.”
The unit came under scrutiny in June this year for the inquest into the death of local man Craig Creedon, who was released from the unit just 30 minutes before committing suicide.
Pictures by Sidshots/Steve Bottomley/Dale Murray
