A suicidal man allegedly raped on a psychiatric ward by another patient while he was dosed up on medication has blasted staff for failing to protect him – and has called on police to act.
The man was reportedly attacked at Park House, on the grounds of North Manchester General Hospital, in November.
He is currently in hospital seriously ill following numerous suicide attempts.
The man was allegedly raped by another male patient on a unit for people with mental health issues in the early hours of November 30.
The man, who has attempted to take his own life 10 times in the past month following the ordeal, spoke to the M.E.N. in a bid to get answers from Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust bosses over his care.
He is also urging police to take action.
The man, suffering from depression, climbed on top of a Manchester city centre car park three nights in a row in November, intending to jump to his death.
Claiming he was offered no help for two days having attended Manchester Royal Infirmary, he was eventually assessed by a mental health ‘gatekeeper’ after being talked down from the car park by police for the third time.
He was admitted to Park House as an ‘informal’ patient in November.
During his stay, the man said he didn’t feel safe and wanted to leave.
In November, while on suicide watch, the man told staff a man in a bed opposite was ‘freaking him out’.
He said the man exposed himself a number of times and made lewd comments towards him.
The alleged victim said he was given diazepam and lorazepam to ‘relax’ him, but claims he wasn’t checked on by a nurse for over an hour.
He claims that when he woke up, he was being raped by another patient.
Police were called and the man was checked over by doctors. He said medics found physical evidence of a sexual assault.
The man said officers told him he and his alleged attacker weren’t fit to be questioned because they had been sectioned – and the investigation went no further.
The man says his alleged attacker was also allowed to approach him following the incident.
The man went on to attempt suicide while at Park House a number of times before appealing his section, claiming he didn’t feel safe, and being released in December.
The day he was discharged, he showed staff a suicide note he had written on Facebook, telling them he intended to kill himself.
The next day he took an overdose and was left seriously ill at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The man has demanded answers from mental health trust bosses – and has called on police to act now he is no longer being detained under the Mental Health Act.
He claims his alleged attacker is also no longer sectioned and so is fit to be questioned.
Speaking about the alleged attack, he said: “I froze, I couldn’t get my head around what was happening. I couldn’t bring myself to say what had happened to a nurse.
“They said they were keeping me in a place of safety, yet I was raped. I couldn’t live with myself if this happened to anyone else. That’s why I’ve come forward to tell people what happened to me and how it was dealt with.
“I tried to kill myself twice after it happened on the ward and the day I was discharged, I told them I intended to kill myself.
“I’ve now been given another mental health assessment and haven’t been sectioned, so I’m fit to give the police a statement. I don’t understand why nothing is being done.
“The man who did this to me has been released. So why isn’t he being questioned?
“I did not consent to what happened, I couldn’t have. I’m not psychotic. I wasn’t detained for that. I was sectioned for being suicidal.”
The man says medics again attempted to section him last week and took him to Park House, while his alleged attacker was there also being assessed.
He was not detained and sent back to hospital.
Director of Manchester services for the newly formed Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Deborah Partington, said: “A thorough investigation is already underway into the circumstances of these incidents.
“We take the matter of self-harm very seriously and work closely with those who have hit a crisis to ensure they are given the treatment and support they need to prevent them reaching that point again.
“As with all serious incidents of this nature, we always review to examine the circumstances of what happened. Patient safety remains our top priority and will be a key area of work for the new Trust to ensure there are safe places for people experiencing a mental health crisis in the city of Manchester.”
Police confirmed that they were investigating the allegations.
A GMP spokesman said: “Police received a report that a man had been raped at a hospital on Delaunays Road, Blackley.
“An investigation is underway and enquiries are ongoing.”
Helplines and websites
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It doesn’t have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information. http://www.depressionalliance.org/
Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying. http://studentsagainstdepression.org/
The Sanctuary (0300 003 7029) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year, for people who are struggling to cope – experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks or in crisis.
Credit: Manchester Evening News
Additional Reporting: MUN Reporter
Man reportedly raped on Manchester psychiatric ward at Park House by another patient
Two Years ago the Channel four series Hollyoaks featured programmes on the subject of male rape. In this video CEO Duncan Craig from the Manchester charity Survivors talks of the help and support available to victims of male rape. 
Telephone: 0161-236-2182
or email support@survivorsmanchester.org.uk
Follow Survivors on Twitter: @SurvivorsMcr
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