A PLACE of safety suite for vulnerable people detained by police is due to reopen at York's Bootham Park Hospital next month.

The facility, which hosts people detained by police under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, shut when Bootham Park Hospital closed due to safety concerns last month.

But Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust, which runs York's mental health services, plans to reopen the section 136 suite on Wednesday, December 16.

TEWV revealed the news yesterday in an email to York’s senior acting coroner Jonathan Leach.

Mr Leach had planned to recommend the suite's reopening at the end of a three-week inquest into the death in custody of mental health detainee Toni Speck.

But after contacting TEWV with his intentions, he learned the trust was already taking action.

TEWV told Mr Leach that repair work to enable the suite's reopening should finish by Friday, December 4.

Last month a trust spokesman said: "This work relates to the water system, fire alarm system and minor building works to meet health and safety requirements.”

The work will then be inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on Monday, December 7 TEWV told Mr Leach: "We anticipate that the CQC will recommend the site being opened in a matter of days."