BECKENHAM: Electronic tags to track Bethlem patients

The system has been brought in at Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, after a series of high profile incidents in the past few months.

Officials from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, unveiled the Buddi (corr) tracking system at a Bromley Council meeting.

They had been called there to answer questions about how patients from the medium secure unit River House have been able to abscond when on leave from the building.

Speaking at the meeting, the trust’s chief executive Stuart Bell admitted it was impossible to stop patients from absconding.

He said: “I would like to reassure you that the concerns of the community are something that we take very seriously.

“Whilst one can never entirely eliminate the chance of them [patients] absconding what we can do is assess the risk of them absconding very thoroughly.”

Patient absconded to Canada

Since the £33.5m unit opened in February 2008 there have been 15 incidents where patients have absconded from River House.

This figure includes one man who was eventually found in Canada.

There have also been 10 incidents where patients on unescorted leave did not return when they were supposed to.

But now every patient who goes on leave from River House has to wear an electronic tag.

The tamper proof device is fitted to the ankle of the patient and uses GPS technology to track them.

If they are late back from their leave then the police can be notified of their location and pick them up.

The target for this is 12 minutes rather than the two days each it took to find Patricia Gillette last November and Colin Coakley last month.

PATRICIA GILLETTE

Obese murderer Patricia Gillette went on the run after escaping from Bethlem staff while at the shops in West Wickham.

She was on escorted leave when she made off from the high street at around 3pm on November 13.

Police found the 41-year-old in Streatham two days later.

Ms Gillette killed Mark Murphy, 38, at his home in Streatham on August 22, 2006.

She was sentenced at the Old Bailey in July 2007 to be detained under a Hospital Order for an indefinite period.

COLIN COAKLEY

Colin Coakley absconded from Bethlem Hospital on February 6 and police launched an appeal to find him.

The 35-year-old was found in Sussex two days later and was taken into police custody.

There were serious concerns regarding his welfare because his health deteriorates without his medication.