NHS 'in cover up over cruel abuse of patients'
THE NHS has been accused of covering up how staff repeatedly attacked patients at a hospital unit for people with profound learning disabilities.
Police have launched a fresh probe into the allegations after a top-level dossier claimed health workers hit, threatened and humiliated patients, withheld food and drink, locked them in cupboards and drove them to well-known sex spots for their amusement.
The leaked report details 44 allegations of abuse, which it is claimed were carried out by nursing assistants at the Solar Centre in the grounds of St Catherine’s Hospital, Balby, Doncaster.
Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health Trust has apologised to patients and families for “failing to protect” those in its care.
But there is fury among patients’ families that they were not told until last year about any abuse – carried out over 16 months between 2005 and 2007.
The matter has only now become public after a report was sent to the families with a demand they keep it confidential.
they are the NHS, they are meant to be looking after Carla, not hurting her
Though the dossier concludes abuse did occur, a police probe in 2007 failed to result in prosecutions. Now after an internal review police have re-opened the case.
The report details allegations of abuse by four workers and states 31 of the incidents were witnessed by nine staff members. One of the accused quit after the investigation and the others no longer work at the centre.
Two of the accused employees, named only as A and B, were in a relationship and were responsible for 42 of the incidents. All four deny any wrong-doing.
Patients could not be interviewed because they had limited communication abilities. Among those said to have been abused was Sandra Mountain’s daughter Carla, 30, who suffers from aicardi syndrome and cytomegalovirus – she cannot talk or see.
Hairdresser Sandra, 52, said: “I feel bitter and angry. The system has let down Carla and others. They let this go on for years.
“I’d have never expected it. You trust people, they are the NHS, they are meant to be looking after Carla, not hurting her.”
Reg and Maureen Darton’s daughter, Kay, 47, suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and is also unable to speak.
Mr Darton, 69, said: “They phoned and told me that Kay had been abused, but didn’t say what. Abuse covers a lot of things.
“I don’t know why we were not told sooner. I’m sure they’ve been waiting to see if they could get away with it. I’m convinced they have been trying to cover it up.”
Ian Jerams, chief operating officer for the Trust, said its own investigation began in 2008 after legal proceedings were dropped.
DCI Matt Fenwick, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “I have requested the report. If additional evidence is present or further allegations highlighted, consideration will be given to re-opening this investigation.”
