Banned from going to hospital (From Warrington Guardian)

Banned from going to hospital

HEALTH chiefs have won round one of their battle against a Crewe man who is alleged to have repeatedly threatened and abused Leighton Hospital staff and paramedics.

Sixty-three-year-old Peter Sutton, of West Street, repeatedly called 999, demanding that an ambulance take him to the hospital, when there was no genuine medical reason, Crewe County Court heard on Monday.

Once inside the hospital's accident and emergency department Mr Sutton would often become abusive and aggressive towards staff in front of young patients and their parents, the court was told.

On one occasion he demanded that staff find a "free taxi" to take him home and another time he lambasted a hospital worker as a "waste of f***ing space."

It was alleged that Mr Sutton, who is believed to have problems with alcohol abuse, would often discharge himself before any treatment had been administered.

Lawyers representing the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, on behalf of the hospital, Mersey Regional Ambulance Service and the two agencies' workers, have sought an interim injunction against Mr Sutton to protect medics from being threatened or harassed by him.

Marcus Dignum, counsel for the service, told the court: "It is a very unfortunate course of behaviour but it is costing public bodies time, money and energy that they should not be put to."

Granting an interim injunction, until a full hearing on December 15, District Judge Rogers stressed the order did not prevent Mr Sutton from alerting the ambulance service or attending the hospital in the event of a "genuine medical emergency."

Under the order he is banned from attending the hospital, in particular the A&E ward, unless he has been referred there by a GP, another medical establishment or has a prior written appointment.

He is also barred from contacting the ambulance service, either directly or via the 999 service, or harassing any hospital or paramedic staff.

If he breaches the order he will be in contempt of court and could be arrested.

Mr Sutton, who did not attend this week's hearing, can formally challenge the interim order's terms before next Monday.

Following the hearing a health service spokesman said that people who abused and threatened NHS staff potentially put the health of other patients at risk.

He added: "We hope this injunction will prevent abuse by this individual and also send out a message that the NHS will not tolerate abuse of it services or its staff."