A mental health hospital is failing to provide proper care because of a severe staff shortage, according to one of its patients.

The patient, known as Lexie, has criticised the Little Brook Hospital in Dartford, which is run by the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

“The staff to patient ratio is ridiculous and the needs of some of the patients are extreme,” she said.

“I am trying to be their voice because I am a former nurse. I may be a patient here but I have a lot of experience and am having to do the staff’s job.”

Lexie, 31, from the Isle of Sheppey, worked as a care manager, prison officer and a domiciliary nurse before being admitted to the Little Brook last month.

She suffers from bipolar personality disorder. “It was quickly obvious to me that there was not enough staff to look after us properly,” she said.

“I am trying to be their voice because I am a former nurse. I may be a patient here but I have a lot of experience and am having to do the staff’s job”

She says she broke up a fight between two male patients as there were no male staff to step in.

Also among her concerns is a perceived aggression and impatience by staff towards patients.

Police were called to the hospital in Bow Arrow Lane on Tuesday, April 19, after reports of threatening behaviour from a member of staff, which resulted in one patient going missing. He eventually returned after getting lost in the town centre.

Lexie’s father, Melvin, said his daughter sent texts to him at least twice a day with her concerns. He wants the Care Quality Commission to inspect the hospital. It has not published a report grading its standards since 2013.

He said: “My daughter is not happy, as well as some of the other people in there, about how things are run.”

A spokesman for KMPT defended the quality of care at the Little Brook but admitted it was struggling with staff recruitment.

“The safety of our patients and staff is our utmost priority and is supported by nationally recognised safe staffing levels which help ensure we are delivering quality care while keeping patients safe and protecting our staff,” they said.

“Recruitment within the health service is a problem nationally but especially in Dartford where we compete with neighbouring trusts who are able to offer the London weighting allowance.

“We are however looking at a number of options in relation to recruitment and staff retention to address the issue.

"This includes the introduction of a therapeutic staffing model which has already shown in the east of the county to improve the inpatient environment for both patients and staff.”