Andrew Simm: Body found in hospital grounds

There is to be a review of procedures at the Cedars Unit at Wonford House Hospital.

It follows the death of 26-year-old Andrew Simm, a voluntary patient who went missing last Monday.

An inquiry was carried out by Devon Partnership NHS Trust at the Cedars last year after three patients plunged to their deaths from cliffs at Sidmouth.

Charity's concern

Medical director Dr Paul Cawthorn said changes had been made to assessment of patients following the inquiry.

He said: "We try to give patients leave to go out into the community as part of their rehabilitation.

"But if they do not return, we have to do a risk assessment.

"That means local searches and informing the family, but if someone is detained we can ask the police to bring them back."

Mental health charity Mind closely followed the review after the deaths last year and feels improvements have been made to the Cedars.

But Mind is concerned that such events may cause some people to ask for more mental health patients to be locked up.

Mandy Williamson, Mind co-ordinator in east Devon, said: "Our concern is that events like this do not lead to society demanding that hospitals are just there to lock people up.