The Lakes Mental Health Hospital

The Lakes Mental Health Hospital is a mental health hospital on Turner Road, Colchester.[1] The hospital has two impatient wards, Gosfield Ward (an all-male ward) and Ardleigh Ward (an all-female ward). It is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).[2]

Performance

A 2016 report by the Care Quality Commission found that the hospital overall "requires improvement" with the safety of the hospital being described as "inadequate" while the care was described as "good".[3]

Controversies

Sexual assault

In 2018, a woman known by courts as "Jess" reported that a male health care assistant had kissed and massaged her without her consent. The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust paid her £33,000 in compensation.[4][5]

Patient deaths

The hospital has faced criticism over a number of patient deaths that have occurred on and outside of the hospital. These include Michelle Morton, a 29 year old woman diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder who committed suicide on 8 December 2018,[6][7][8] Fred Peck, aged 54 who committed suicide in 2004.[9] Joshua Leader, aged 35, diagnosed with psychosis and schizophrenia committed suicide two days after being denied treatment at The Lakes.[10]

Hospital conditions

The conditions of the hospital have been criticised for being "unsafe" and patients have claimed to be forced to sleep on the floor[11] and have claimed the hospital treat them like "inmates".[12][13][14]

References

  1. ^ "The Lakes - NHS". Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Acute Adult Inpatient Service". Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Archived: North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust". CareQuality Commission. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Compensation secured for female patient following sexual assault at Essex mental health hospital". Leigh Day. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  5. ^ Piers Myler (24 June 2021). "Patient gets £33k after allegation at Lakes hospital in Colchester". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  6. ^ Tom Dalby (19 October 2022). "Mum died at Lakes Mental Health Hospital in Colchester, inquest hears". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ^ Ellis Whitehouse (19 October 2022). "Essex mum died in Colchester mental health unit after multiple failings led to 'catastrophic consequences', jury concludes". EssexLive. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  8. ^ Anna Willis (6 October 2022). "'Beloved' mum found dead at Colchester mental health hospital days before she was due to leave, inquest hears". EssexLive. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  9. ^ Séamus O'Hanlon (23 August 2025). "Lampard Inquiry: Essex women speaks out about dad's death". Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  10. ^ Ellis Whitehouse (12 July 2024). "Essex man who was refused admission to mental health ward two days before death was neglected by NHS trust, inquest concludes". EssexLive. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  11. ^ James Cox (26 April 2012). "The Lakes mental health unit made me sleep on the floor, patient claims". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  12. ^ Tom Dalby (8 April 2021). "Colchester woman 'stripped naked and placed in seclusion' at hospital". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  13. ^ Séamus O'Hanlon (28 July 2025). "Essex and Colchester mental health ward Requires Improvement". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  14. ^ Matt Lee (16 July 2025). "Essex man 'treated like inmate' during stay at 'prison-like' mental health facility, inquiry hears". EssexLive. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
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