Staff photographed sleeping at ‘unsafe’ York eating disorder unit

The personnel in an expert eating disorder unit were photographed to sleep when they needed to look at patients with risk of harming them.

According to information flyers, there were more than one “insecure” incidents due to personnel failures.

Many serious patients told BBC that they felt that their time in the unit worse.

Schoen Clinic York said, “In cases where certain concerns were brought to the agenda, they were fully investigated and discussed, but no” systemic problem “was found.

In total, we talked to nine former patients and five staff who told us:

• Sleeping workers when they want to watch vulnerable patients
• Personnel who do not harm patients and do not help them
• Patients with eating disorders serve non -hygienic foods
• Workers using triggering language such as “you are not skinny enough to be here”

If you have been affected by any problem put forward in this article, help assistance BBC’s action line page.

In his 30s, Naomi wanted to live at home during treatment for anorexia, so that he could continue to look at his child. However, he was told that community treatment was not available, and he would have to be admitted to Schoen Clinic York for expert care day and night.

Two years ago, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) served as “good”, saying that it provided “good” and “safe care” and “managed risk well”.

However, all patients with BBC, including Naomi, do not strongly participate in the findings of the health care guard. After the inspection of the CQC, they spent time in the unit and financed by NHS.

Since 2022, the CQC said that the “provider continues to be watched”, including two visits to talk with patients and staff. They said that “people who use the service were very disappointed”.

In Schoen Clinic York’s eating disorder service, daily care is mainly provided by nurses and health assistants containing agency staff.

While some patients have “hardworking” and “supportive”, others have little experience in mental health problems, and sometimes there was no compassion.

He saw photos taken by two patients, BBC, Naomi and Harriet, and a video, which shows three staff in sleep when they need to watch them.

A maintenance guide given to patients said that they will “control” for 40 minutes after each meal – a time that can get rid of vomiting, laxative or excessive exercise.

Naomi said he took a picture of it shortly after having dinner.

Naomi, who was disappointed with his “bad care”, took a picture of the sleeping health assistant to prove it.

“He felt exactly ignored for us as patients” and “showed lack of care.”

23 -year -old Molly from Leeds spent four months in Schoen in 2023 and signed with Naomi.

Molly required one -on -one observation to prevent excessive exercise during his stay. However, he often wakes up at night and hears the snoring staff.

People with eating disorders are sensitive to self -harm. However, patients said that some workers could not provide appropriate therapeutic support.

“I was in my room, I was cutting myself. The staff would go in and do me and walk back without saying anything.” He said.

Abbie deliberately wounded his head after one evening staff came in. He said he ran to A & E, but the staff who were intended to look at him fell asleep in the waiting room for several hours.

“I was attractive to the legs, but I was very in pain because I couldn’t,” he said.

The lack of monitoring has released vulnerable patients in “insecure” cases, according to personnel noticers who want to remain anonymous, because those who are worried will affect their working abilities in the future.

We shared the findings of our investigation with Dr Ashish Kumar, President of the Faculty of Food Disorders of Royal Psychiatrists College.

“Sometimes I sympathize with overly working staff or units that are inadequate,” he said. “However, not responding to patients when they suffer can lead to more serious damages and possibly death.”

Schoen said he could not comment on individual cases, but the personnel foresees and manages the “risk of self -harm” through “individual care plans, advanced observation and clinical promotional protocols when necessary”.

All staff “was inspected, trained and inspected before working with patients,” he added.

Content, the food quality offered to a person with eating disorders is important to help heal.

However, patients said that they were not seriously taken seriously when they repeatedly increased concerns about the food presented in Schoen Clinic York.

A woman told us that she and others were served in May 2025.

“I, ‘I can not eat this. We are here with food problems, you can not offer us hairy foods,’ ‘he said.

A month ago, he gave Schoen a single -star food hygiene degree. Only 90 of the 31,380 maintenance in the UK have such a low score.

The concerns include kitchen workers who didn’t wear hair nets or did not bind their hair back.

Most of the patients told us that food can sometimes be “invincible”.

Former patient Harriet, who was in the unit in 2023, said, “When we complained, they said, ‘Only your eating disorder speaks’.” He said.

In the same year, Molly’s mother, Sarah, was so concerned about writing to the administration of the clinic.

“The food usually contains meat that looks like cartilage, jelly and fat. He continued:” I expected the diet to motivate patients to eat the highest quality. “

In response, Schoen said, “It takes concerns about food quality seriously,” he said.

“There was a period to use a food supplier determined by our landlords,” he said.

Schoen said that he had “handled problems” described in the latest food hygiene examination and that his kitchens were supervised by a new chef.

“I’m absolutely terrified and disgusted to hear these terrible experiences,” I am absolutely terrified and disgusted, “the whole Party Parliament Group President Wara Hobhouse said. He said.

The liberal democratic deputy, who responded to reports that the staff in Schoen uses a triggering language such as “Eat only something”, said “eating disorders are seen as a choice” and “too many patient accusations continue.”

“We know that people can completely get rid of a eating disorder, but in the services where too many patient staff are not well educated enough.”

Schoen Clinic York expanded in February to treat dementia patients in the same building as eating disorders, and the BBC was said to move between the two services.

One week after the closure of the eating disorder unit in August, the BBC learned that the dementia unit, also known as the Wellen Court, was stopped from accepting new patients due to security concerns.

The York Municipal Assembly, which finances local dementia maintenance settlements, confirmed that it was “temporarily paused” to provide a safe environment.

Following his concerns, the CQC was unannounced and the findings will be published in time.

Schoen said he welcomed “advanced protection measures” and took “high maintenance standards” to its inhabitants.

• If you have been affected by any problem put forward in this article, help assistance BBC’s action line page.