An individual has taken to the roof of Sevenacres within the grounds of St Mary’s Hospital in Newport this evening (Friday).
Emergency services are currently on scene at the mental health unit having been called to the developing situation shortly before 19:00.
Police are working alongside NHS staff to resolve the matter.
Island Echo is told that debris is being thrown from the roof onto the ground below with day shift staff said to be ‘trapped’ inside the building.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have 2 appliances from Newport on scene, alongside the Aerial Ladder Platform.
Police have closed Dodnor Lane whilst the incident remains ongoing.
It is unclear at this stage how the individual has obtained access to the roof. The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has been approached for a statement.
UPDATE @ 20:20 – The National Police Air Service helicopter from Bournemouth has been drafted in to assist with the operation. The helicopter is currently circling overhead and is holding off to the south.
Meanwhile, it’s understood negotiators are being transported across the Solent by Police boat to assist with the incident. They are being taken to a landing site in Cowes.
Similar incidents have occurred at St Mary’s in the past, including twice in 2015 and 2019.
UPDATE @ 21:40 – In a statement, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust has said:
”We have experienced an incident at our Sevenacres Ward at St. Mary’s. The emergency services and police have been in attendance to provide support, therefore we are unable to share any further information until this has been investigated”.
UPDATE – The situation has been successfully resolved which has led to 1 male being arrested for multiple offences.
It has been confirmed that a number of vehicles have been damaged as a result of the male’s actions.
Police had to deploy riot shields for protection due to the debris being launched from the rooftop.
Hampshire Constabulary is expected to issue a statement shortly.
UPDATE SATURDAY – It has been confirmed that 2 Police cars and a number of cars belonging to NHS staff were damaged in last night’s incident.
Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/person-takes-up-position-on-roof-of-sevenacres-mental-health-unit/.
This is the cost of a severe lack of investment in mental health services on the island. After experiencing some personal issues myself with mental health and finally plucking the courage to ask for help, I was informed of a waiting list of 2 years to receive therapy. Let that sink in, 2 years.
I like the assumption is made that this was a mental health patient. Arrested. Nothing to do with the patients or the staff looking after those inside. Never heard of bad not bad? We all have “personal issues” so theres going to be a waiting list, depends if ur invested and appreciate the work involved in therapy or if u just want an instant fix…
Well done for asking for help just a real shame the help you needed wasn’t available straight away this needs to be sorted hope your ok now
Council cant even help people with autism
They get treated more like criminals than get proper help on this island
Jon doe I absolutely agree with every word you say , how do they think people can cope while waiting on a long waiting list , they obviously are going to get to breaking point before even being seen .It is a sad world we live in .
I Sincerely hope that the miscreant pays for all the damage done out of its benefits to the police cars, not to mention the risk that the officers will have been under from injury.
He won’t pay for the damage, he doesn’t work, he came out of prison last year and just been causing trouble ever since! Waist of space some people. I understand mental health issues but this isn’t the way to go about it.
With a cold night ahead, hopefully the person will come down. Lets just hope the situation gets resolved quickly without any mishaps.
The island is changing very quickly, not necessarily for the better I hasten to add. Can’t say the same for certain services and attitudes here.
When it comes to mental health you would think seeing your GP would be your first point of call, however, most GP’s know very little on how to treat you.
I suffer with panic attacks and have done for more than forty years, after a coming off a motor bike at seventy MPH, my panic attacks would stop for months sometimes, but now I have anxiety disorder and just getting out of bed in the morning, my heart rate is around 130 bpm.
But I take beater blockers, it helps a little for my heart rate, however, it’s not helping with my daily anxiety, I’m just trying to live with it.