Southleigh Community Hospital
A male nurse was stabbed to death at Southleigh Community Hospital Google Maps

A male nurse was stabbed to death at a hospital in Croydon and police have charged a 40-year-old man with his murder. Jimmy Jedson, of Brighton Road, South Croydon, is accused of killing Patrick Clarke at Southleigh Community Hospital.

Police were called to reports of an attack at the hospital in Brighton Road on Thursday 12 May. Medical staff found the 68-year-old male nurse with serious stab wounds. Clarke died at the scene of his injuries.

Jedson is reported to be an inpatient, according to the Croydon Guardian, was arrested and charged with suspicion of murder at the mental hospital. He was taken to hospital and treated for a hand injury.

Healthcare chain 'saddened'

A spokesman for the private mental healthcare provider, Inmind, which runs the hospital, said on Friday: "We are greatly saddened to confirm that a member of staff lost his life yesterday following an incident in the hospital. "Our deepest sympathies are with his family, friends and colleagues.

"He was a valued and respected member of staff who will be deeply missed." He added: "We cannot say more as we are working closely with the police on their ongoing investigation into this incident."

Albert D'Mello, who lives next door to the hospital, was told by a staff member that a nurse had been killed by a patient. "We didn't have a clue what happened yesterday. All I saw was ambulances and police cars.

"One of the nurses there was in the office and apparently one of the patients went in and just stabbed him to death."

Death investigation

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating the death. A post-mortem examination of the victim took place on Friday, which established that cause of death was a knife wound to the chest.

Southleigh Community Hospital provides rehabilitation, treatment and care for around 25 patients with complex mental health needs. It consists of a number of "small number of semi-independent apartments" according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and was rated "good" for safety.

The hospital had 22 patients, 13 of whom had been detained under the Mental Health Act following an inspection in August 2015.

Jedson is due to appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Monday, 16 May.