Hospital under investigation over abuse concerns

8 hours ago

Steve KnibbsGloucestershire

A mother whose daughter spent time in Wotton Lawn until last year said the experience was traumatic for her

BBC An aerial view of a large brick built hospital. There are cars parked in the car park at the front and the area is surrounded by trees with green leaves. — A mother whose daughter spent time in Wotton Lawn until last year said the experience was traumatic for her

Warning: This article contains details of self-harm and attempted suicide which some readers may find upsetting.

An acute mental health hospital described by one patient as "manic" and "absolute torture" is being investigated over safety concerns.

Wotton Lawn in Gloucester is subject to a statutory Section 42 enquiry for the first time in its history, a process which starts when a local authority has concerns for an adult's welfare or thinks they could be at risk of abuse or neglect and unable to protect themselves.

The enquiry at the hospital, which includes a secure psychiatric intensive care unit, began in February.

It started when Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation (GHC) trust told Gloucestershire County Council's safeguarding team it was investigating concerns over a "a range of issues".

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One patient said one member of staff was openly abusive to her.

Councillor Kate Usmar, cabinet member for adults' support & independence at the council, said its investigations will "seek assurances that patients at Wotton Lawn Hospital are being cared for safely".

The trust's leaders said they are fully cooperating with the enquiry and said the investigation related to their reporting of incidents and aspects of care.

"Our priority will always be the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone within our care," they said.

The BBC understands that patients, families, and staff have been informed of developments.

The trust which runs the hospital says its priority is the "health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in its care"

A sign outside a brick building at the Wotton Lawn hospital. There's an arrow pointing in the direction of the Maxwell Centre. — The trust which runs the hospital says its priority is the "health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in its care"

'Lives in danger'

Patients and their families who have experienced care in Wotton Lawn have welcomed the enquiry, but said it is long overdue.

A patient, who the BBC is calling Joanna to protect her identity, has been in and out of the hospital several times in the last four to five years.

She described the hospital as "unsafe" and that she knew people who had lost their lives there.

"I've seen patients climbing up on to the roof multiple times. I've witnessed people trying to kill themselves," she said.

"I've been in a lot of situations where I've been rushed to hospital after attempts I've made on my life. You find you can do something that will risk your life and staff don't do anything to keep an eye on you.

"I know people who have gone on leave when they shouldn't have done, and they ended up killing themselves," she added.

Time there 'traumatic'

Joanna's friend is currently being cared for at the hospital and she described it as "absolute torture" and said her ward was "manic", with a member of staff being openly abusive to her.

The issue, Joanna said, is about the number of staff who do not take the job seriously.

She added she hopes this new enquiry will make a difference, as there are good staff who are struggling under the pressure.

"There were some members of staff who were really good, who were very supportive, but they get burnt out too quickly, there's just not enough of them unfortunately," she said.

Joanna is currently receiving residential treatment away from Gloucester and is doing well, but her mother said her time in Wotton Lawn was "traumatic" and "exacerbated the trauma and her mental health needs".

She said her daughter was given razor blades by agency staff after asking for one to shave her legs and she ended up self-harming very badly.

Joanna was also sent home on leave with razor blades and cut herself at home, her mother added.

She also had concerns about the number of agency staff who were not "trauma informed" and has called for more understanding and access to treatment "as a basic" starting point.

"It's not just more resources; it has to be a change of thinking from senior managers down," she added.

Wotton Lawn is an acute mental health hospital in Gloucester

Picture of a brick built hospital in daylight with three sections connected together. There are a number of vehicles parked in front. — Wotton Lawn is an acute mental health hospital in Gloucester

Another former patient, who the BBC is calling Emma, was admitted to Wotton Lawn several times before leaving in 2025.

She said the hospital was a "traumatic, uncaring" place and that she did not feel safe.

"I was left to self-harm longer than I should have been, sometimes to the point where I would have to clean myself up," she said.

"I was on hourly checks but I was left for two to three hours banging my head against the wall. I was left with concussion without getting the proper medical support."

'Blades and tablets'

"I had a member of staff who saw me self-harming who said, 'carry on, I don't care'," Emma said, adding it was also easy to leave the hospital even though medically she was not allowed.

"There were times when I could bring blades and tablets on to the ward because staff weren't doing proper searches. Patients were able to get drugs and alcohol in," Emma added.

In response to her claims a health trust spokesperson said the authority takes standards of care "very seriously".

"We are therefore sorry to hear reports of poor experiences. While we cannot comment in detail on individual circumstances, we are keen to find out more about any particular cases that we have not already investigated," they added.

There is no timescale for the enquiry, but other agencies involved include the Care Quality Commission and Gloucestershire Constabulary - although the BBC understands there is no criminal investigation at this stage.

Jane Bee, an independent safeguarding consultant based in Gloucestershire, said the enquiry will be focused on keeping people safe.

"The purpose is to look at support or protection that might be needed in the future and to look at really what should happen next," she said.

"It's not to apportion blame, it's to look at the actual process. How have we got here? What needs to happen? How can we ensure safeguarding is right?".

Wotton Lawn has been the subject of several incidents in recent years including the case of William Warrington who escaped from the hospital and killed his parents, and concerns from families that staff were sleeping on shift and poison was used at the hospital.