More than 60 former Hill End Adolescent Unit patients settle claims for sedation and abuse in late 1960s to early 1990s

The claims have been settled under a compensation scheme launched in July last year on behalf of around 90 former patients who were housed at the youth psychiatric facility in St Albans, Hertfordshire when it was in operation between 1969 and 1995. The damages so far total just over £2.5 million. 

The Hill End Compensation Scheme was secured by law firm Leigh Day and looks to compensate former patients who were unlawfully sedated and/or subjected to physical or sexual abuse or mistreatment during the time they lived at the unit which was set up for young people aged under 16. 

Some of the former patients allege being strip searched upon their arrival and being subjected to intimate searches and physical examinations.
 
They report being regularly sedated through injections and a drink they were given. These drugs were often topped up several times a day and could leave the patients unconscious for hours or days, it is claimed. 

Records confirmed the use of the antipsychotic medication Largactil (or chlorpromazine) and the hypnotic drug chloral hydrate. The records shared with the Leigh Day legal team led by partner Emma Jones further support that these drugs were frequently used as a way to control and punish the patients, and to reduce staff anxiety.  

At times when staffing was low, there were recorded instances where the children were sedated collectively, as a means of control.  

The former patients who have settled their claim so far have each received a five-figure sum in compensation.  

Some of the former patients are also looking to bring complaints against individuals through the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council due to their experience at Hill End.

Stan Burridge  

“The violence was for the sake of it.” 

Stan spent a total of 299 days at Hill End. He had two admissions: one from May 1979 to September 1979, and another the following year from March to September 1980.  

He recalled the staff members using physical violence and regular sedations. Stan highlighted that the staff used violence if they felt the children were not being compliant. 

Stan said:  

“The aim of challenging the various governing bodies and royal colleges is to start to have the meaningful conversations which are needed to bring about sustainable change. 

“Only a few who worked at Hill End will remain working in the field, but I think it is safe to say that those who do, will have some seniority, and they can influence how care delivery methods are implemented, and that includes dangerous, abusive and damaging working practice. 

“We need a concerted effort that challenges the official bodies and government to strengthen the policies and bring about sustainable change. There should be more robust protections for whistleblowers.” 

Neil (anonymous) said:   

“All my life I have been affected by Hill End and felt that was it.” 

A former patient who we will refer to as Neil recalls being forced to drink a sedative.  
When sedated, he alleges being raped. Neil did not understand what had happened at the time.

The nurse who he says abused him repeated the sexual abuse throughout his time at Hill End, often isolating him from others. 

Neil recalls being sedated for two days straight. Following one of the doses, his body started to contort painfully. This is a side effect of the sedative Largactil. He found the experience very frightening.  

Neil said:   

“Leigh Day gave me a voice that I never thought I would have.  

“All my life I have been affected by Hill End and felt that was it.  

“I initially felt very guarded about telling everything to Leigh Day, but now they have been a catalyst for me to get help to address the abuse that happened to me.” 

A former patient who we have called Catherine said: 

“The impact and consequences of that place and the aftermath have just been unmeasurable. I know for me this process has given me the safe space I needed to make my full disclosure and rid myself from the weight of carrying that alone for so many years.  
 
“It’s not the financial settlement but the empowerment, the voice, throwing that hideous baton of responsibility back at the system that failed and abused us so terribly and having some acknowledgement for that.  
  
“The scars inflicted will remain part of our fabric but not our definition. I hope for all of us we can find our peace and go on to live the best that we can.” 
 
Leigh Day partner Emma Jones, who has been working with clients from Hill End for over seven years said: 

“This has been a long time coming and an incredibly emotional process for our clients. They have been waiting years for this recognition. Although we were able to persuade the police to investigate, which provided some degree of acknowledgment for our clients. 

“The process of setting up the scheme took a number of years. We had hoped that the majority of the claims would have been finalised by now, but due to the way the Defendants are assessing these claims it is taking longer than we had hoped. This is causing further damage to our clients when their sworn statements are being questioned. However, the claims are being settled, but not, at times without a further battle, for my already vulnerable clients. Despite Victoria Atkins, the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in her apology letter recognising how incredibly difficult it must be for my clients to have to relive their trauma, this is exactly what a number of them are being forced to do in order to justify what happened to them. 

“We are glad to have been able to secure settlements on behalf of a number of our clients and we are working as hard as we can to try to ensure resolution for the remaining clients. However, if we are forced to take legal action to secure justice for our clients, we will take that step. We urge anyone else who was a resident at Hill End Adolescent Unit to come forward and speak to us at Leigh Day now so that they too benefit from the compensation scheme.” 

Human rights solicitor Saoirse Kerrigan who assisted Emma Jones with this case said:  

“Staff members at Hill End violated their position of trust to intentionally harm vulnerable children. The treatment our clients were subjected to has no place in a therapeutic environment. Sedation was used systematically to punish and control children at Hill End and the threat of violence for the slightest misdemeanour was a constant presence. Rather than providing a place of safety, Hill End was a living nightmare for our clients and many of them continue to bear the scars of that treatment to this day.”