PATIENTS in a Southampton hospital ward have been left “freezing” without any heating.

One patient said she has been living in the Trinity Ward at mental health clinic Antelope House for a month and "can't sleep".

The hospital clinic has admitted they have a heating issue and said heating engineers are working to resolve the matter.

Helen Boyland, 38, is a patient at the clinic.

She said: “The windows have stayed shut. There is no heating and all of the patients have been given double duvets.

“When I ask why there isn’t heating, they say they're speaking to maintenance - we're all freezing and it is unacceptable.”

Helen added: “I can’t sleep. I had a shower earlier and I thought I was going to turn into a block of ice when I came out.

“All the staff are going sick and saying how freezing it is.”

Sarah Olley, Divisional Director of Operations Southampton for Southern Health said: “We are aware of an issue with the heating at Antelope House in Southampton. We are working with the heating engineers and our site maintenance staff to get this resolved today.

“In the meantime, we have spoken to patients and staff and are putting temporary measures in place to ensure the temperature remains as comfortable as possible.”

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Antelope House earlier this year and identified a range of issues including staff shortages, the absence of correct equipment and “erratic” record-keeping.