A VILLAGER who claims he saw the same man repeatedly threaten to commit suicide has branded a mental hospital as failing in its care.

Brian Adams said the Littlemore Hospital patient threatened to jump to his death from a railway bridge in Sandford Road, Littlemore, on four occasions in the past three months.

Mr Adams, who lives in Sandford Road, said the latest incident last month saw police close the road by the railway bridge to all traffic while the man was rescued.

Last night, he urged the hospital to contain patients for their own, and the public’s, safety.

Mr Adams, 29, said: “It was a Littlemore hospital patient because nurses from the hospital attended the scene with identification badges.

“I can appreciate the hospital has a very tough job, and some of their residents have serious mental illnesses, but what I cannot understand is how this man has been allowed to keep doing this.”

He added: “For some reason, this poor man is looking to get attention.

“Each time he does this, we have multiple police cars, fire engines, ambulances, and then a road closure.

“And all of this is at the cost to the taxpayer.

“Surely this man should not be allowed to walk freely, as he is a danger to himself and the public, so why does Littlemore Hospital keep allowing this to happen? He should be contained within their facility, or chaperoned at all times.”

He added: “I believe the hospital is failing in its duties to their patients and the local community.”

Emma Heath, a spokesman for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust, said the trust could not release personal information or comment on an individual patient’s treatment.

She said: “As is the process for all those within our care, a multi-disciplinary clinical team meets regularly to review the care that patients receive.

“This team assesses the needs of our patients to ensure their safety on an on-going basis and to ensure they are receiving their care in the most appropriate environment.”

Police spokesman Chris Kearney confirmed officers were called to the bridge on Thursday, July 29, at 4.15pm, following reports that a man had climbed over the railings.

He also confirmed officers were called to the bridge on Friday, July 2, at 8.30pm.

He added: “We have a duty to respond to any concern for welfare.”

Anne Mogridge, chairman of Littlemore Parish Council, described patients’ suicide attempts as “an occasional occurrence”.