Source: Manchester Evening News, 31/01/24
Three members of staff are still being investigated, while 32 have ben told no further action will be taken against them.
A police probe into the alleged mistreatment of patients at a unit run by under-fire Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust is ongoing, the Manchester Evening News has learned. Three staff remain under investigation by Greater Manchester Police, while 32 others have been told they face no further action.
The GMP investigation was launched after the BBC’s Panorama embedded an undercover reporter at the trust’s Edenfield Centre in 2022. Allegations of abuse followed, with show bosses presenting their findings to GMMH.
Allegations were said to have involved dozens of staff and patients at Edenfield, based in the grounds of the former Prestwich Hospital in Bury. The facility cares for adult patients
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A GMP spokesperson said today (Wednesday, January 31): “GMP is actively investigating concerning allegations against staff at The Edenfield Centre. Officers have reviewed footage obtained from undercover filming at the mental health unit and, on Tuesday 30 January 2024, wrote to 32 individuals to inform them that no further action will be taken against them, whilst three staff remain under investigation.”
It comes following the publication of a damning report on the trust on Wednesday morning. NHS England said some of the region’s most vulnerable people were abused; their loved ones ignored when they tried to escalate their fears; and multiple signs to act on serious failings to their care were missed.
The trust has been under scrutiny for 18 months after a host of failings emerged. The findings of the NHS review into the care and treatment provided by GMMH say patients were ‘denied their basic dignity and human rights’ amid ‘insidious decline’ in the quality of care being provided and a ‘culture of fear and intimidation’ among staff.
The Edenfield Centre has 11 wards. A number of staff were suspended in light of the Panorama allegations and the centre was closed to new admissions.
In a statement issued in 2022 a spokesperson for GMP said: “GMP has opened an investigation into a number of allegations against staff at the Edenfield Centre, following a period of undercover filming at the mental health unit.”
Head of GMP’s Public Protection Department Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr said at the time: “It goes without saying that these allegations are concerning. Since they were brought to our attention, we have been working with partner agencies to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals.
“We’ve also obtained the information required to open criminal investigations and enquiries are ongoing to ensure all offences are recorded and those involved identified. In consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, we are reviewing footage from Panorama with a view to prosecuting anyone who’s captured committing a crime.
“Anyone who has concerns about care they or a loved one has received should contact us or Crimestoppers.”
The one-hour BBC programme captured alleged humiliation, verbal abuse, mocking and assault of patients. A trust spokesperson said they were unable to comment while the GMP investigation continued.