Body found in hospital toilet (From Watford Observer)
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Body found in Watford General Hospital toilet
10:00am Thursday 7th May 2009 in Search Module
Police have launched an investigation into the discovery of a dead patient in a toilet cubicle at Watford General Hospital.
Hospital chiefs will hold urgent talks this morning, 24 hours after finding the body of a patient inside a toilet cubicle.
The 22-year-old man, who has not been named, was found dead in the early hours of yesterday morning, after he had been reported missing from Watford General Hospital's acute admissions unit on Saturday.
It is believed he suffocated himself after locking himself in the cubicle, and lay there undiscovered for three days. A statement released by West Hertfordshire Hospital's NHS Trust, which runs the Vicarage Road hospital, said the incident was being treated “very seriously”.
It added: “We are carrying out a thorough internal investigation surrounding the circumstances of this incident and when this is complete we will issue a further statement, if appropriate.”
A police representative said the death was being treated as “not suspicious”.
She said: "Officers were called to Watford General Hospital following the discovery of a man's body in a locked toilet cubicle just before 5am yesterday [Wednesday].
“An initial investigation has shown there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragedy and the coroner has been informed. Police are also working closely with the hospital at this time and the family of the man have been contacted."
The £12 million, 120-bed acute admissions unit opened in February and provides acute care for all emergency patients from across south-west Hertfordshire.
