A mental health hospital for young people with learning difficulties is set to be shut down amid reports a staff member assaulted a patient and another teenager managed to swallow screws and part of a radiator grill.

The Priory Hospital High Wycombe, on Cressex Road, was rated inadequate by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a damning report published this week.

The Priory Group is best-known for its London clinic, which is described as one of Europe’s leading clinics for drug and alcohol rehab and has been attended by celebrities.

The low security High Wycombe hospital, for boys and girls aged 13 to 17, will reportedly shut this weekend – just 10 months after it opened.

Relatives of patients raised fears that staff were not adequately trained to care for young people with learning disabilities and autism and had also witnessed “inappropriate” language being used by staff to describe the patients.

Inspectors found that most staff had no experience working with people with learning disabilities or autism and had not been given training.

The layout of the ward, which has 12 beds, was described as “disorientating” and there were “lots of loud noises” – making it unsuitable for young people with autism.

Before the inspection took place in December, a young person with complex needs also managed to swallow objects like wire, screws and part of a radiator grill – and the staff did not know where they had come from.

Between April and July 2018, there were 61 instances of restraint used on the ward involving six different young people.

Between September 25 and November 14, there were 12 incidents reported at the hospital - including medication errors, patient assaults on staff and an incident where an agency member of staff had allegedly assaulted a patient.

This member of staff was stopped from working at the hospital and their agency was informed of the allegations.

Pauline Carpenter, head of hospital inspection and lead for mental health at the CQC, said: “Our inspection has identified a number of serious problems concerning patient safety and the quality of care that needed immediate attention.

“It was a matter of some concern that, at a specialist unit, some of the staff could not demonstrate the knowledge or specialist skills needed to care for teenagers who had learning disabilities or autism.

“Following the inspection the Priory Group has decided to transfer the young people who were being treated there and have applied to de-register the hospital.

“In line with our policy the unit will remain in special measures until such time that the registration is cancelled.”