Broadmoor staff 'forgot to lock up'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

In one incident, the alarm was only raised after a patient in the dangerous and severe personality disorder unit - which houses sexual offenders and murderers - walked out of his room to tell night workers.

Nigel McCorkell, chairman of the West London Mental Health Trust, said staff had received written warnings that "it is an unacceptable thing to happen".

He told Channel 4 News: "The patients in question were not locked up at night as they are required to be so, and one of the patients pointed this out to a member of staff."

Mr McCorkell said "it happened on one or two occasions".

In a separate incident in March this year, only half the staff on the unit turned up for their shift, a managerial email obtained by Channel 4 revealed.

According to the email "only six out of the planned 12 staff turned up for night shift at DSPD last night. Different reasons were given by each member of staff for not attending."

The fresh revelations came to light as the West London Mental Health Trust was attacked for showing a lack of "vitality and vigour" in tackling a series of shortcomings and incidents including patient suicides.

Inpatients were put at risk due to a failure to properly investigate suicides and learn from other serious incidents, said health and social care regulator the Care Quality Commission.