NURSES at top-security Ashworth hospital are regularly out- numbered five-to-one by dangerous psychiatric patients. The ECHO today reveals how some nurses feel vulnerable to attack or intimidation as staff levels on wards deteriorate.
Ashworth, in Maghull, is home to some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals including Moors killer Ian Brady. n Schizophrenic murderer Paul Khan, who stabbed a Prestatyn dog walker to death in a frenzied, unprovoked attack Cop killer Glaister Earl Butler, who knifed a constable in Manchester.
n Raymond Wills, who butchered his sister and nephew.
n Liverpool murderer Mark Corner, who stabbed and dismembered two prostitutes.
n Homophobic killer Roy Jorgensen Kristensen, who stabbed barman Philip Lee at Otterspool.
One ward routinely has only three nurses – two women and a man – to deal with up to 15 mentally-ill patients, according to union bosses.
Hospital chiefs say staff safety is paramount and recruitment of qualified staff is under way.
But today, prison officers association general secretary Brian Caton called the situation “obscene”. He said: “Ashworth is home to some very dangerous, damaged and volatile people and the staff deserve to be kept safe.
“To cut staff numbers in the way they appear to have done is obscene. They are in a situation of quite substantial over-spend and we know they’ve got to make sure they spend their money wisely.
“But we are not going to continue to stay quiet when that over- spend puts patients, staff and the general public at risk.”
He called on trust chiefs to recruit more nurses and tell current staff the truth over their debt crisis.
“It is absolutely vital that they don’t leave it until there is a serious incident and we’ve got a big inquiry on our hands.
“Ashworth is part of the NHS. Two female and one male staff on a ward are unacceptable when there should be six nurses.
“These patients are dangerous and can attack each other and staff – the trust are gambling and it’s a gamble we cannot afford to take.”
Staff levels were first outlined as a problem after a 1999 inquiry into massive failures at the unit.
But union bosses say Ashworth’s financial situation and problems retaining staff is hampering recruitment.
Patrick Colligan North West service director of mental health charity MIND, said Ashworth bosses are not to blame. He said: “You cannot deny the fact that there are problems with staffing levels – it’s a national crisis throughout the entire NHS.
“But I am sure the management at Merseycare are doing their level best to solve it and we should trust their ability.”
Charles Flynn, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive for Mersey Care NHS Trust said: “At present, there are no vacancies for unqualified staff and recruitment is ongoing to fill a small number of qualified vacancies.
“Ashworth hospital currently has 258 male patients and the average ward size is 17 patients – the intention is to reduce to 15 patients per ward by 2007/08.
“There is a rich mix of experienced staff employed in High Secure Services with 681 clinicians.
“Almost half (47%) of the clinical workforce are qualified Registered Mental Health Nurses – some of them with very specialist additional qualifications.
“Nursing assistants provide essential support and a large number of them have many years experience within High Secure Services.
“It would be inappropriate to discuss actual staffing levels on particular wards for security reasons. However, staff safety is of paramount importance and no actions will be taken which compromise this
Ashworth’s journey
ASHWORTH Hospital was created in 1989 when Moss Side and Park Lane hospitals in Maghull were merged.
In 1992 an investigation was launched into alleged ill-treatment of patients by staff, after a television documentary.
In 1997 the Personality Disorder Unit at the hospital became the subject of a public inquiry which resulted in 58 recommendations – including one hospital should close.
In June 1995 further changes to the management of high security psychiatric services in England and Wales were announced.
Ashworth Hospital became an authority in its own right in April 1996.
The government said giving the hospitals authority status allowed “greater responsibility to the people who work in each hospital so that they are able t o develop the organisation in ways that meet the needs of their patients and respond quickly on day-to-day matters affecting patients and staff
‘People like Brady could take advantage
THE mother of Moors Murderers’ victim Keith Bennett today said the situation at Ashworth hospital had to be resolved quickly.
Keith was abducted and killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley just days after his twelfth birthday in June 1964.
Neither Hindley or Brady ever revealed where they had dumped Keith’s body on Saddleworth Moor, and despite searches of the area, his remains were never found.
His mother, Winnie Johnson, 70, said she was horrified at the prospect of patients like Brady being able to intimidate over- worked staff at the topsecurity hospital.
She told the ECHO: “It’s annoying and very concerning that staff at Ashworth are spread so thinly on some wards.
“They need to sort it out as soon as possible. The people who work there are in constant danger from psychopaths like Brady and they need proper protection.
“He is one of the mad and bad ones who staff there have to put up with every day.” Mrs Johnson, from Fallowfield, Manchester, and detectives involved in the case, have made several desperate pleas to the killers to reveal where Keith is, but they have ignored her.
She dedicated her life to the hunt for his make-shift grave, desperate to give him a decent funeral.
She said: “People like Brady are evil and devious and could take advantage if they think there aren’t enough nurses
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