Police have launched an investigation into alleged mistreatment of patients at a mental health unit. The Manchester Evening News understands that the allegations involve 40 patients and 25 staff, and that more than a dozen staff have been suspended.
The Edenfield Centre, based in the grounds of the former Prestwich Hospital in Bury, is the focus of the inquiry. 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 evidence to the NHS Trust which runs it.
The Edenfield Centre has 11 wards and it is understood staff working on both male and female wards have been suspended and the centre has been closed to new admissions.
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In a statement, 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: “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 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 criminal offences.
The MEN understands that footage obtained by Panorama of the alleged mistreatment is harrowing. The programme is scheduled to be broadcast this evening. (Wednesday 28th).
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.
"The undercover BBC person was there for four months, he alerted CQC , this same person did the undercover work at Winterbourne Care Home in 2011. Members of the management team have been moved and reports spanning back years are being investigated."
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."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust 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.”
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust which runs the unit is already under scrutiny after three yoing people died within nine months at other units at the Prestwich facility.
As reprted 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. Inquests into all three cases are pending but the family's of Rowan and Charlie are angry that the Trust says it has no plans to publish an indepednent review it commissioined into the three deaths.
Anyone with information they think could be useful should contact GMP via gmp.police.uk or 101 quoting Operation Crawton. Information about crime can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Greater Manchester Victims’ Services can be contacted via gmvictims.org.uk or 0161 200 1950.
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