A MOVE by the NHS to build temporary offices for its staff in the car park of a North Yorkshire hospital has triggered concerns for the mental health of elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

Residents of Priory Close in Northallerton said while they supported South Tees NHS Trust’s ambition to create a new operating theatre complex at the Friarage Hospital, they had been startled by the buildings for 35 staff being erected overlooking their homes.

Planning papers submitted by the trust to Hambleton District Council state the erection of 300sq m of temporary offices are part of its plan to provide state of the art facilities for elective surgery at the hospital.

They state management staff would be transferred to the offices to enable demolition works in advance of the future proposed major development on the site, but work on the offices had not started before the application was filed.

A trust spokesman said it wanted to keep the offices for three years on 29 spaces of the visitor car park, near Priory Close, a group of homes owned by Broadacres Housing Association

Priory Close residents said the NHS had not consulted over its plans or provided any information that the offices were to be erected and claimed the buildings had gone up with planning permission yet to be granted.

One resident, whose name is withheld, said: “I had to get in touch with the council to find out what was happening with the buildings. I was informed that no application or request had been received at the time these were erected.

“The windows overlook my property and my privacy has been invaded. I now have to keep my blinds down and curtains closed as they overlook my bathroom and bedroom.

“I can’t move freely anymore around my home now as I feel am being watched.”

A support worker for another resident said the location of the office had affected the mental health of her client and left him unsure about using his bathroom or garden.

She said: “The offices are already up and people have already moved in they can see straight into my client’s bedroom and bathroom and kitchen which is a total invasion of his privacy”.

In a letter to planners the support worker said: “I feel it is inconsiderate of the NHS not to consider the impact of putting the office practically in the back garden. They put blinds up, but that hasn’t stopped people pulling them up and looking in on them so I urge you to take them down please.”

The trust did not respond to claims the buildings had been erected without planning permission. A spokesperson said: “We are enormously grateful for the support of our community and in response to feedback, special film has been applied to the windows, which allows natural light in, but can’t be seen through.”