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Investigation launched at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham after patient Angela Stephen walks out without anyone noticing

Angela Stephen was allowed to twice walk off her hospital ward
Angela Stephen was allowed to twice walk off her hospital ward

Medway Maritime Hospital has launched an inquiry after a vulnerable patient was found by police on the streets at night soaking wet in her pyjamas.

Less than 24 hours later, Angela Stephen sparked concern for the second time after walking out of the ward again.

Now her frantic daughter Ebony Stephen-Carey is demanding an explanation and a guarantee from NHS staff that it will not happen again.

The hospital has launched an investigation into how it happened and apologised to the family.

Ebony, 23, found out about the alarming lapses in safety - which happened on Friday night and Saturday lunchtime - after a call from her mother's carer and from others being treated on the Will Adams ward.

She said: "I am her next of kin and I have a right to know how this happened.

"I found out by chance. Otherwise I would have been blissfully unaware.

"She is a vulnerable person and I don't like to think what might have happened if the police hadn't picked her up and taken her back to the hospital.

"Apparently, when they first saw her they thought she was drunk and disorderly."

Ebony Stephen-Carey has demanded an explanation from NHS staff
Ebony Stephen-Carey has demanded an explanation from NHS staff

Mrs Stephen, 44, was discovered by officers walking along Shakespeare Road, several roads away, in the rain.

Ebony was told her mother had been absent from the ward on the top floor for about half an hour.

"She is a vulnerable person and I don't like to think what might have happened if the police hadn't picked her up and taken her back to the hospital..." - Ebony Stephen-Carey

When she went to visit the next day, she was told about the second incident when Mrs Stephen left the ward at about 1.30pm and was found in a stairwell where staff persuaded her to return.

Ebony, who lives in Newnham Street, Chatham, said: "I was told by another patient that she went to look for her after she did not return from the toilet after 15 minutes."

Mrs Stephen, who lives in Village View, Luton, was admitted about eight weeks ago after contracting an infection.

Subsequent tests showed she was suffering from previously undiagnosed brain damage.

Ebony, who starts a Christmas job at a shop in Bluewater next week, added: "At the moment I am able to get to see her regularly, but I can't be there 24/7.

"Surely they have a duty of care for my mother?"

Ebony has since had a meeting with the ward manager, who has assured the family that somebody will be sitting with her at night to watch her constantly.

Medway Maritime Hospital. Library image
Medway Maritime Hospital. Library image

Head of nursing Jayne Gray said: "The hospital is taking this incident very seriously.

"A full case conference was held on the Will Adams ward with doctors, nurses, social services and members of the patient's family on Monday, November 4.

"A full patient safety investigation has been launched. We are aware that this incident was very serious and we would like to apologise to the patient's family.

"Patient safety is at the centre of everything we do here at Medway Maritime Hospital. We want to ensure we do all we can to learn from the incident.

"We will be keeping the family updated with our findings."

Ward staff had raised the alarm at about 9.15pm on Friday.

Security staff had seen a woman fitting her description leaving the hospital and called the police.


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