An MP has spoken of 'incredibly upsetting scenes' after the BBC claimed in a Panorama investigation that patients at a Greater Manchester NHS mental health unit were 'filmed being subjected to abuse'.
Greater Manchester Police have opened an investigation - codenamed Operation Crawton - into allegations of mistreatment focusing on the Edenfield Centre, a mental heath unit for adults based within the grounds of the former Prestwich Hospital in Bury.
The Manchester Evening News understands the allegations involve 40 patients and 25 staff, and that more than a dozen staff have been suspended. Patients at the unit were filmed being subjected to abuse, it's claimed, with the BBC alleging the Panorama footage, which aired on Wednesday night, showed some being bullied, humiliated, swore at and taunted.
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The film also purports to show inappropriate use of restraint, according to experts, and faking of paperwork intended to ensure patient safety. The footage is from an undercover Panorama reporter, who worked at the unit from March to June this year.
The BBC said experts who have reviewed the findings said that in one instance some staff acted 'like a gang, not a group of health care professionals'. Footage, added Panorama, showed some staff mocking patients, who were also filmed on occasion slapping or pinching them.
Writing on Twitter in the aftermath of the programme Christian Wakeford, Labour MP for Bury South, spoke of 'incredibly upsetting scenes' and vowed he would help anyone who needed it.
The Edenfield Centre is within his constituency. It has 11 wards for men and women and cares for people who are at serious risk of harming themselves or others, including some patients from the criminal justice system. Around 600 staff care for 200 patients.
Mr Wakeford said he was committed to supporting families affected and criticised the alleged 'disgusting treatment by some staff', describing it in his post as 'unforgivable'.
Welcoming the police investigation, the MP said: "Having now watched the incredibly upsetting scenes in Panorama I am struggling to convey appropriately the anger I am feeling. I am committed to assisting any families affected by treatment of their relatives and would urge them to contact me.
"The disgusting treatment by some staff is unforgivable and must be investigated both independently and thoroughly. The patients of Edenfield have been failed. It is vital that there is justice for both them and their families and I will leave no stone unturned until they get it."
Sandra Walmsley, a Labour councillor in Bury and chair of Bury North Labour Party, called the programme 'deeply upsetting and disturbing'. Also writing on Twitter, Coun Walmsley said: "The Panorama programme was deeply upsetting and disturbing, affecting some of the most vulnerable people who rely on decent and dignified care and support.
"All the allegations should be investigated thoroughly and urgent action taken. The patients at Edenfield deserve so much better."
A charity, meanwhile, said it was there for anyone who needs help and support. The Suicide Crisis Centre tweeted: "We know that yesterday's BBC Panorama documentary has brought up painful emotions and memories for many people who have been inpatients in psychiatric units, particularly if they have their own experiences of poor or harmful care.
"We are here for you, today and every day."
Patients were held in tiny seclusion rooms for days and sometimes months, it is claimed. Paperwork intended to ensure patient safety was frequently falsified, showing some staff had done patient observations when they hadn't, it is claimed. There was a 'toxic culture' among some staff of 'corruption, perversion, aggression, hostility, which was undermining patient recovery', it is claimed.
The BBC say one patient, diagnosed with schizophrenia, is not allowed to go to the bathroom alone for her own safety. Panorama says a female support worker was filmed humiliating the patient for having to supervise her while going to the toilet, complaining to her about 'having to look at your a******e, where biohazard f*****g waste comes out'.
One nurse was filmed, say the BBC, refusing to check on a crying patient, who has self-harmed and tried to kill herself. Some staff then laugh and joke about her, it is claimed.
A patient is filmed being dragged by the wrist from a chair and into a room down the corridor, it is claimed, for an injection. She is mocked with foul language as some staff hold her down on a bed, it is claimed.
Harley - an autistic woman who was at Edenfield due to self-harm - was sitting on the floor when at least eight members of staff picked her up and dragged her away, screaming, back to a seclusion room where she had already spent a fortnight, it is claimed. Harley gave the BBC her consent to be identified.
Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust said senior doctors at the trust have undertaken clinical reviews of the patients affected and it had also commissioned an independent clinical review of the services provided at the Edenfield Centre, which has been closed to new admissions.
A spokesperson said: "We are taking the allegations raised by Panorama very seriously since the BBC sent them to us earlier this month. We have put in place immediate actions to protect patient safety, which is our utmost priority.
"Since then, senior doctors at the Trust have undertaken clinical reviews of the patients affected, we have suspended a number of staff pending further investigations and we have also commissioned an independent clinical review of the services provided at the Edenfield Centre.
"We are working closely with local and national partners including NHS England, the Care Quality Commission and Greater Manchester Police to ensure the safety of these services. We will co-operate fully with all investigations. We owe it to our patients, their families and carers, the public and our staff that these allegations are fully investigated to ensure we provide the best care, every day, for all the communities we serve."
Head of Greater Manchester Police's Public Protection Department, Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, said: "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 Trust said it had opened a dedicated free helpline on 0808 175 3323 - a confidential service staffed by trained practitioners - but urged anyone with information 'about crime' to contact the police.
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