Mental patient allegedly not handcuffed (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Mental patient allegedly not handcuffed

7:00am Saturday 9th June 2012 in News By Alexandra Rucki

A mental patient who escaped authorities during a hospital visit should have been handcuffed, it has been claimed.

Dominic Tamblyn, 27, had been in a secure mental health ward at Springfield Hospital, Tooting, after being charged with a bomb hoax, possessing blades and attempted arson.

He escaped on May 27 while being treated at St George's Hospital, Tooting, but gave himself up by returning to the hospital about 48 hours later.

A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Mr Tamblyn was not wearing handcuffs during the hospital visit and a risk assessment was not carried out properly, adding there were a number of problems with Springfield’s Halswell Ward, where he was detained.

They said: "He was not handcuffed, he was free to walk around.

"People don't do the risk assessments. This is a dangerous person, there is a big problem with this particular ward.

"There have been several escapees. I think basically if they did risk assessments, and then that person should not be allowed to walk around without handcuffs."

A South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust spokesman said: "When patients detained under the Mental Health Act need to be treated in another NHS facility, staff at the trust carry out an individual risk assessment.

"For some categories of patient, including transferred prisoners, the assessment would also include a decision on whether handcuffs should be used or not.

"The decision is based on their mental health, the likely risk of the patient absconding and the risk the individual may potentially pose to themselves or the public, the type of medical treatment they are to receive, and the need to maintain patient dignity and respect."

In 2004 John Barrett escaped from the hospital and stabbed Denis Finnegan, 50, in Richmond Park the next day.

The hospital held an investigation after Paul Caeser, 37, escaped and died on the train tracks in Balham train station.

Caeser was allowed to be in the hospital garden alone, despite being convicted of manslaughter of Harinder Singh Rehal in 1996.

Have you experienced problems with Springfield Hospital? Visit wandsworthguardian.co.uk to leave a comment or call 020 8722 6344