There was much shock and sadness after nurses spoke out about violent behavioural problems at a Swindon hospital's children's unit.
Great Western Hospital staff told the BBC that troubled teenagers have assaulted nurses and verbally abused very young patients and their families.
After Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership closed the Riverside external adolescent mental health unit as a "temporary measure" in February 2024, teenagers suffering from psychiatric conditions have been sent to Swindon instead.
GWH’s unit provides care to children up to the age of 18, and the hospital does not have an adolescent mental health ward as an alternative.
Here’s what you had to say on the matter.
Karen Strickland said: “The nurses on the children’s ward here are wonderful, kind, caring and the hardest working I’ve ever known.
“I’m heartbroken for them that they are having to deal with this. I’ve seen some of the problems first hand when I’ve been there with my child."
Chris Steel said: “Prison sentences for anyone assaulting a health worker or an emergency worker. Reopen the mental health units.”
Paul Findlow said: “Reminds me why I moved from Swindon to Dorset.”
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Jessie-Louize Pearce replied: “The staff shouldn't have to look after the children, just treat them. This is solely the parents’ problems.”
Kath Fairbanks replied: “Some of the children have health issues such as autism. You shouldn't be so judgemental.
“Dementia and UTI can cause aggressive behaviour in elderly. So very sad because there are many there who are there because they need a space in a care home because they cannot go home.”
AnEv Nic said: “The staff on the children's ward are probably not trained in these conditions and how to deal with someone in crisis, it’s not right that they are suddenly asked to work like that.
“These youngsters need specialist help from properly trained people in the correct environment.”
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Another person said: “It’s horrendous what these nurses have to deal with. I’ve witnessed the behaviour first hand whilst having my very poorly child moved to the other end of the children’s ward whilst it was on lockdown with plates being smashed in the corridor.
“There needs to be somewhere else for these adolescents as the children’s unit is not the right place under any circumstances!”
Michelle Corkery said: “Why don't they build onto the hospital a mental health unit for teens. That way they’re not in the children's ward distressing our young kids. Also employ some mental health nurses to deal with them too.”
Nicola Bailey said: “People with severe mental health issues should never be anywhere near a general hospital ward, they need the correct facilities with appropriately trained staff to manage their care and treatment. It's shocking it's come to this stage.”
Louise France said: “It’s very upsetting for staff and patients/visitors. When my daughter was last on the ward, they had a very distressed teenager who was trying to escape the locked children’s ward.
“That meant the ward was in lockdown and no one could leave or enter.
"Unfortunately I had left to go to the cafe to get something to eat and couldn’t get back onto the ward for some time and other parents locked out seemed quite distressed about the situation.”
Glynis Johnson said: “That’s awful, no one deserves to be abused at work.”
Commenter Elaine Cummins said: “The government is ruining this country.”
Commenter CracklingRosie replied: “I think this country was on a downward spiral long before the present government came to power.”
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