EDP: Why was a sex offender placed on a mixed gender ward at mental health unit?

Kieran Lynch of the EDP reports:

Miss Payne claimed in December 2011 that she had been raped by a fellow patient, but two months later was informed that police would not press charges. She was found dead the following day, an inquest in Norwich heard.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Dr Bohdan Solomka, who was Miss Payne’s clinician, said he was aware the accused patient had a history of sexual offences.

He said: “I didn’t make the decision, but due to difficult circumstances the only place that seemed available for him was Meadowlands.

“I had concerns over Kylie and the man associating with each other before the alleged incident, but if it came out in public that the man was a sex offender this would have led to him being attacked inside the facility. It was a very delicate situation to manage.

“Ideally it shouldn’t have happened and it highlighted problems with mixed gender wards.”

The inquest heard that Miss Payne had on November 10 2011 written a note about her wish to leave the facility.

She wrote: “I am not safe here. He is coming to get me. Why won’t he leave me alone? He is scary, I have to leave.”

Who would allow a repeat sex offender on the same ward as a vulnerable woman?

Since Miss Payne’s death, Dr Bohdan Solomka has been promoted to Medical Director of Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).

Click on the image below to read the full story on the EDP website:

EDP Why was a sex offender placed on a mixed gender ward at mental health unit

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