Meeting over 'dangerous patients'

Tighter security is promised at Bryn y Neuadd

Around 150 people packed a meeting in north Wales to discuss their concerns about a medium secure unit for psychiatric patients in their village.

Ty Llewelyn has been under fire from local residents in Llanfairfechan since an indecent assault on a female staff member by a patient on unsupervised leave.

The Llanfairfechan Safety Action Group say security needs to be tightened and potentially dangerous patients should not be allowed to wander around the village.

They proposed a vote of no confidence in North West Wales NHS Trust, which runs the unit and they said the vote was passed unanimously.

They have also expanded their group with support from the local council but stopped short of moves to take direct action by protesting outside Ty Llewelyn.

The hospital said security has been tightened since a female employee was walking through the grounds of Bryn y Neuadd hospital, which houses the Ty Llewelyn unit, when she was indecently assaulted and robbed.

Her attacker was Paul Jones, a psychiatric patient who had been on what is called unescorted absence.

The incident, which happened last October, has caused concern among local people about the safety of the practice.

Following the incident, villagers formed a committee to protest about security at Ty Llewelyn, which houses up to 25 residents.

The North West Wales NHS Trust has promised that work will begin this month on a £500,000 security upgrade.

The trust also said it is legally obliged to monitor patients' suitability before allowing them back into the community.