An NHS trust has suspended staff after allegations that patients were mistreated at a mental health unit. Last week it was revealed police are preparing to investigate the claims which relate to the Edenfield Centre based in the grounds of the former Prestwich Hospital in Bury.
The unit cares for adult patients. The Manchester Evening News understands that action was taken after the BBC Panorama programme embedded a reporter undercover in the unit and then presented the NHS Trust which runs it with their evidence.
The Edenfield Centre has 11 wards and it is understood staff working on both male and female wards have been suspended. Meanwhile GMP are continuing to assess evidence in relation to the allegations.
In a statement to the Manchester Evening News the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Edenfield Centre, said today: "We can confirm that, in line with standard process, we have suspended a number of staff pending further investigations. We cannot provide you with any more than this at this stage."
Ten days ago a spokesperson for GMP said: "We are aware of the allegations and are liaising with partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable individuals and obtain all information required to open an investigation."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said: "We can confirm that BBC Panorama has contacted the Trust, following research it conducted into the Edenfield Centre. We would like to reassure patients, carers, staff, and the public that we are taking the matters raised by the BBC very seriously.
"Immediate action has been taken to address the issues raised and to ensure patient safety, which is our utmost priority. We are liaising with partner agencies and stakeholders, including Greater Manchester Police. We are not able to comment any further on these matters at this stage."
The Edenfield Centre is a secure unit helping mental health patients adjust back into the community. It works mainly with people who have been in prison or admitted to hospital following a criminal offences.
The MEN understands that footage obtained by Panorama of the alleged mistreatment is harrowing. The programme is scheduled to be broadcast on Wednesday next week.
Paul Reed, chair of the Manchester Users Network, which supports users and ex-users of psychiatric services in the area, said: "It can't be continuing to function normally. I understand they are bringing in emergency staff from all over the place.
"The problem too is the Trust is unable to attract staff and existing staff are going off sick as they are not able to give the time they should to individual patients. due to the stress and pressure they are under."
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. As reported in the Manchester Evening News, Rowan Thompson, 18, died while a patient at the unit in October 2020, followed by Charlie Millers, 17, in December that year, and Ania Sohail, 21, in June last year.
Earlier this year, the Trust commissioned an 'external report' into the three deaths. On Tuesday last week, a pre-inquest hearing into the death of Rowan - who used the pronoun 'they' - heard that the full report would be available for the coroner to read 'on or around September 30'
The Trust earlier this month indicated it did not intend to publish the report. Asked by the Manchester Evening News if the review would be published, a spokesperson for the Trust said the body 'always act on the wishes of the family regarding publication of reports', adding "and so in line with this we have no immediate plans to make the report public."
The parents of both Rowan Thompson and Charlie Millers said they wanted the report publishing. Charlie died five days after he was found unresponsive in his room at the Prestwich unit on December 2, 2020. His inquest should have been started on February 28, but was delayed due to the Trust commissioning the review. It is now scheduled to take begin on January 30 next year. His mother, Samantha, said: "It is disgusting how we have had our inquest delayed almost a year for a report that they have not even submitted on time. It was supposed to be ready in August."
Early this month sitting at Rochdale Coroners' Court, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley ordered that a copy of the review - authored by consultant psychiatrist Dr Lisa Rippon - be sent to her by September 24. A full inquest into Rowan's death is due to begin at the end of next month.
