Disciplinary procedures have started against staff at a mental health unit where patients were allegedly abused. More than 20 staff have been suspended from the Edenfield Centre, which is in the grounds of the former Prestwich Hospital in Bury.
Police have launched a criminal investigation too. The action follows a dossier of evidence being collated after an undercover reporter from Panorama was embedded in the unit from March to June.
Staff, including, support workers, and registered nurses, were secretly filmed. The footage appeared to show patients being bullied, humiliated, swore at, and taunted.
Now in a briefing to other stakeholders includuing Bury Council, Neil Thwaite, Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the unit, has revealed that after talks with police the Trust has decided to commence with disciplinary action despite the investigation by detectives. It is understood that the process is being fast-tracked after the revelations put a national spotlight on the Trust.
In a letter, Mr Thwaite wrote: "I should begin by repeating what I have said previously: that the programme contained significant allegations which we are taking very seriously. The Trust Board was appalled by the content of the broadcast, which was both deeply upsetting and intensely challenging."
He confirms a "significant number" of staff have been suspended; an independent clinical review of Edenfield has been comissioned; the centre is closed to new admissions; extra senior clinical and operational management staff have been deployed to the centre to ensure appropriate working practices are being followed; and additional advocacy support has been put in place for patients, their carers and their families.
He adds: "You will be aware that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have also begun an investigation into the allegations contained in the BBC programme. We are in close contact with the police and they assure us there is no reason why their investigation should prevent us from making progress on our own disciplinary processes as a matter of urgent priority.
"I am sure you will understand that the Trust cannot say much more about these disciplinary processes at the present time, to ensure we do not prejudice them in any way. However, disciplinary procedures have already begun and the Trust will ensure that we make rapid progress in this respect. I expect to be able to update you further in this regard, by the end of next week."
Mr Thwaite says in his letter: "We are continuing to work closely with the CQC, as we are with NHS England, the Ministry of Justice, NHS Greater Manchester (our local Integrated Care Board), GMP and Bury Safeguarding Unit. Our principal objective remains the wellbeing of our patients and the provision of the best possible care for the communities we serve.
"The depiction of behaviours in the Edenfield Centre is not reflective of the vast majority of our services, or our staff, but we are not complacent about this matter and are fiercely determined to put things right. As we seek to put right the wrongs that have recently emerged, the Trust is committed to honesty, candour and transparency in all our dealings."
The secretly made film also purports to show inappropriate use of restraint, according to experts and faking of paperwork intended to ensure patient safety. Footage, say Panorama, shows some staff mocking patients, who were also filmed on occasion pinching and slapping them.
As revealed by the Manchester Evening News the University of Salford has taken action in the wake of the allegations by withdrawing all of thier students who were on placement or due to attend placement at the Edenfield Centre.
The Edenfield Centre, a secure unit, has 11 wards for men and women, and cares for people who are at serious risk of harming themselves or others, including many from the criminal justice system. Around 600 staff care for 200 patients.
Jemima Burnage, CQC's Interim Director of Mental Health said: “The footage shown by Panorama is absolutely appalling. It showed people who are seriously unwell and at their most vulnerable, being subjected to appalling, inhumane and degrading treatment in a place, and by people, that should have kept them safe. We know this will be an extremely difficult time for people who are currently being treated at the hospital and their families.
“In response to emerging concerns, we carried out an inspection in June of three core services at the trust, this included the forensic core services provided at the Edenfield Centre. We also carried out a full well-led inspection of the trust in early July.
"Both of these inspections found significant shortfalls in the services provided and as a result of our findings we have taken enforcement action. Enforcement action is informed both by our inspection activity and the wider intelligence we have about a service and can be taken at any time. Following the inspection we provided initial feedback to the trust which is standard process.
"The full and final CQC inspection report will be published once it has been through the formal factual accuracy and quality assurance process. We have suspended the rating of the forensic services while we finalise the findings from our most recent inspection and to reflect the current concerns about the quality and safety of care being provided. We are reviewing the footage shown by the BBC and will not hesitate to take further action if needed.”
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust which runs the unit is already under scrutiny after three young people died within nine months at other units at the Prestwich facility.
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