HEALTH service regulators are investigating an incident where a mental hospital patient was alleged to have absconded and caused alarm for residents of a nearby Wellington housing estate.

The incident happened last month when a man was seen wandering around the Jurston Fields estate from about mid-day until nearly midnight.

He had gone missing from the Elysium Healthcare-run low and medium secure Wellesley Hospital, which is about half-a-mile away on the Westpark business park, in Chelston.

The patient was said to have spent much of the time in a children’s play area on the estate and at about 11 pm caused a woman to scream when he approached her in the dark.

He was seen knocking on doors and ringing doorbells until nearly midnight.

Police described it as a ‘one-off incident’ which they ‘would not expect to happen again’.

They said the man was calling at houses because he was ‘a missing person’ from Wellesley Hospital who wanted to return to the hospital, and he was eventually ‘collected and returned’.

Hospital director Gerard Comey told one homeowner: “We are aware of what occurred and appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention.

“We have already spoken directly with the homeowner who was most immediately affected by this incident and have provided reassurance.

“We fully understand that having an unknown individual knock on your door late at night is alarming and frightening, and we recognise the distress that this situation may well have caused.

“Prior to the incident, the patient involved had been thoroughly risk assessed and deemed safe to have leave in the local community.

“However, in light of what has occurred, a decision has now been made to stop this leave permission.

“As a result, the individual in question will not be at liberty to appear at the property again.

“We apologise sincerely for any distress or concern caused to our neighbours.

“The incident has been treated with the utmost seriousness by our team.

“It was an isolated occurrence, and our robust risk assessment processes, involving a multi-agency approach, remain firmly in place.”

One estate homeowner said: “This strange guy called at my house last night.

“Made directly to my house.

“I was not in, thankfully, but am now petrified being on my own.

“I had to cancel my holiday and return due to this individual.

“Until I posted on our Facebook group I suspected that my home was at risk as it was empty as I was on holiday.”

The resident said it was not the first occasion such incidents had occurred in the past four to five years, and the following evening a woman had tried a door on the estate.

A complaint was made to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates all health and social care services in England to ensure the quality and safety of care.

The CQC said it had passed the information to its inspection team for the Wellesley Hospital and would provide an update later.