UK: Nurses accused of helping offender escape
Two nurses have been suspended from duty over claims they helped a patient escape from a psychiatric unit.
The 35-year-old had been serving a sentence on a hospital order at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle.
He escaped from the unit on August 7 before voluntarily returning four days later.
An investigation was launched into the man’s escape and two nurses were arrested on August 26 in connection with the probe.
A 32-year-old woman was held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and another woman, aged 29, was quizzed on suspicion of assisting an offender to go awol.
Both have been bailed until next month by police.
This incident came just weeks before an 18-year-old escaped while on a day’s fishing trip from the hospital on Bank Holiday Monday.
William Pritchard absconded during a visit to Felton in Northumberland. He was on the run for less than 24 hours before being recaptured.
He has since appeared before magistrates in connection with the escape and has been remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court.
A spokesman for the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust said: “Two members of staff have been suspended in connection with an incident in which a patient went absent without leave.
“The patient is now back in hospital and investigations are now being carried out in line with trust policies.
“This is part of the normal process following any such allegations. We are assisting the police with their inquiries.”
A Northumbria Police spokesman confirmed that a 32-year-old woman was arrested on August 26 for allegedly perverting the course of justice and another woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender to go awol.
