A PATIENT escaped from Atherleigh Park eight times in the first two months of the £40 million mental health hospital opening.

There were 11 cases of abscondence in total, North West Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s latest board meeting revealed.

Only one person escaped the old Lakeview Unit at Leigh Infirmary in February, where the patients were previously treated before the move to Atherleigh Park in March.

In a report, trust nursing director Gail Briers said: “The increase has been seen following the move to our new hospital, where some areas of security in the physical environment were identified by service users, who then absconded from the unit.

“The incidents are attributable to a very small number of patients and one patient accounting for eight incidents."

The report says security has now been tightened at the hospital on Atherleigh Way.

Ms Briers added: “We have reviewed patients' care and support needs to prevent further incidents.

“Eleven occurred within Atherleigh Park due to security related issues with the unit release buttons.

“This has now been rectified with an override key which the in-patient units are using.

“Our clinical teams are also working closely with colleagues in estates to make minor changes where appropriate.”

Built on the old Leigh East rugby league ground, Atherleigh Park boasts 48 en-suite bedrooms for vulnerable adults with mental health problems, a 26-bed unit providing short stay intermediate care for patients with dementia and memory conditions and a 16-bed unit for older people with mental health issues.

The trust declined to comment on the board report.