AN elderly patient being kept under close observation on a psychiatric ward, hanged himself three days after his admission to hospital.

Fred Robinson, 80, was found hanged by his belt, which was attached to his bed head, five minutes after he had been checked by a nurse who thought he was sound asleep.

The retired plumber, of High Street, Marske, was a voluntary patient. He had been referred to St Luke's Hospital, Middlesbrough, for an assessment by his GP Dr Mohammed Islam, in April, last year.

The referral was made after two incidents at Mr Robinson's home. The first was when he dropped a radio into a basin of water. He was then later discovered in his garden with a kitchen knife.

Because of a shortage of beds, Mr Robinson had to sleep in a locked hospital ward containing patients who were suffering from dementia and he was distressed to see a male patient hit a woman patient in the face.

Jennifer Wardle, who visited her grandfather in hospital the following day, gave evidence at an inquest held in Middlesbrough.

She said: "He wanted to go home. He said 'it's a nut-house'. There was no person he could talk to."

She said the family had wanted to take Mr Robinson home where they felt they could look after him better, but they were overruled by medical staff.

She told Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield: "We feel his situation was mismanaged. His basic needs were neglected."

She said psychiatrist Dr Liselotte Werner had been 'hostile', repeatedly questioning whether the family could keep a 24-hour watch on Mr Robinson if he was to return home.

Dr Werner apologised to Mrs Wardle from the witness box, during the inquest. She said: "I know my voice was sharp, I was certainly not being hostile."

Mr Sheffield recorded a verdict that Mr Robinson killed himself.