Greater Manchester Police have opened an investigation following allegations that adult patients were mistreated at a mental health unit in Prestwich.
There have been a number of claims made against staff at the Edenfield Centre after BBC’s Panorama presented the NHS Trust with evidence after they embedded an undercover reporter in the unit. Several people have since been suspended and now police are getting involved.
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. Anyone with any information 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.”
The Edenfield Centre has 11 wards and it is understood staff working on both male and female wards have been suspended. It 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 offence.
A statement at the time from 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.”
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust which runs the unit is already under scrutiny after three young people died within nine months at the Prestwich facility. 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.
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