A 31-year-old man has been banned from Royal Oldham Hospital for three years after threatening to set the building on fire and subjecting staff to repeated abuse. Andrew Stonier faced a criminal behaviour order (CBO) secured by Oldham Council, which prohibits him from entering the hospital until June 28, 2029, except for pre-arranged appointments or genuine emergencies.
Details of the Threats and Abuse
According to Oldham Council, Stonier directed “serious abuse and threats” toward nurses and hospital staff, including explicit threats to set fire to the hospital. These incidents caused significant disruption, with staff spending hours dealing with his behaviour, diverting valuable time and resources from patient care.
The CBO was issued by a court in England and Wales to tackle the most serious and persistent offenders involved in anti-social behaviour. The order specifically prohibits Stonier from entering any part of Royal Oldham Hospital, including clinical areas, wards, departments, A&E, and outpatient facilities.
Exemptions and Consequences
Stonier may only attend the hospital for a pre-arranged appointment and must leave 30 minutes before and after the appointment. An exemption applies only if he requires genuine emergency medical treatment. Any breach of the CBO will result in arrest and further criminal action, potentially leading to a return to court.
An Oldham Council spokesperson stated: “This individual's behaviour towards dedicated NHS staff was completely unacceptable. No one should be subjected to threatening, abusive or intimidating behaviour while carrying out their job, particularly those working tirelessly to provide care to patients. These incidents placed an unnecessary burden on hospital staff and valuable NHS time and resources were spent dealing with his vile and threatening behaviour. We took robust action to secure this Criminal Behaviour Order, which sends a clear message that behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated and we will ensure that action is taken against anyone whose behaviour causes harm, fear or disruption in our communities.”
Impact on NHS Staff and Resources
The case highlights the ongoing issue of abuse against NHS staff. The Manchester Evening News reported that Stonier’s actions forced staff to divert attention from other patients, wasting time and resources. The CBO aims to protect healthcare workers and ensure they can perform their duties without fear of threats or violence.
