Psychiatric hospital under fire for "misleading" council in planning application

At a planning meeting last month, the council raised no objections to proposals to alter an existing permission which would allow the unit to be used to carry out emergency assessments of high level patients - patients who cannot be managed on open (unlocked) psychiatric wards owing to the level of risk they pose to themselves or others.
The council claims the hospital did not draw its attention to the change of condition from a low- to medium-risk patients unit to a high level PICU.
Members of the town council have since admitted that paperwork should have been checked more thoroughly, but have also criticised the hospital, claiming it did not make it clear what the change of condition would entail.
Since learning more about the PICU, several town councillors have u-turned by lodging formal objections, while members of the public have also voiced their concerns about safety.
Members of the Thornford Park Liaison Group are also angry, claiming that the hospital has gone behind their backs by not consulting them on the change of use despite promising to do so.
The hospital has defended the claims, insisting it has done nothing wrong and that it informed the Thornford Park Liaison Group of the plans “fairly promptly” after requesting the change.
Thatcham town councillor Dominic Boeck said: “We are all feeling a bit dismayed that they have not been open about what they want. Perhaps we should have been more focused as a council but we thought we had a good relationship with them so it is very disappointing. I think we all feel just a bit as though they are trying to put one over on us.”
Thatcham town councillor Sheila Ellison said: “It seems that we made a mistake and did not read it carefully enough. That is not just my fault but all of ours.”
She added: “We don’t usually have to read the small print in applications but we certainly will now.”
Chair of the Thornford Park Liaison Group, Mike Bloomfield, said: “I don’t necessarily have a problem with the PICU itself.
"What I am angry about is the fact that in January, the hospital went on the record as saying they would inform us before doing anything and have gone behind our backs by doing the opposite.
“The first we heard of the PICU was at our board meeting on April 30 and they requested the change of usage in March, at least five weeks before the meeting.
“My other concern is over the proposed 3.2 metre fence.
"The rest of the hospital is surrounded by a 5.2 metre fence and no-one has ever escaped, so why take the risk?”
A spokesperson for the hospital, Caroline Walker said that the “last minute” decision to request the PICU was made at a hospital board meeting at the start of the year.
She added: “The planning application in progress is for a minor alteration to the height of a fence giving limited changes to the external appearance of the permitted structure.
“Planning permission is already in place which allows for any ‘hospital’ use related to the existing use at the site. Details of proposals for the use of the building were communicated at the April residents’ committee meeting at which no concerns were raised and all questions asked were fully answered.
“There is an ongoing dialogue with residents’ to address subsequent concerns and meetings with key interested parties will be arranged shortly. We are proud of the hospital’s good relationship with the local community and fully expect to reach an amicable solution.” She added that the hospital was confident that a 3.2 metre fence would provide adequate security.
Thornford Park provides personalised assessment and treatment programmes for men with complex care needs, histories of offending and those who may have failed in previous placements. It says that the unit would create at least 30 new jobs including nursing and admin roles.