5 October 2022

Recently we saw BBC One’s Panorama investigation into the Edenfield Centre; a NHS Mental Health Hospital in Greater Manchester.

In the episode, shocking discoveries were revealed from the undercover footage.

Alix Walker, Head of Clinical Negligence at TRUE, inspects these findings, highlighting the negligent care performed by staff.

Edenfield Centre in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, is one of the largest mental health hospitals in Britain, offering services to vulnerable patients with mental health conditions.

Under the Mental Health Act, patients residing or being cared for under the hospital are considered at serious risk of harming themselves or others and were therefore entrusted into the care of the hospital whose staff were supposed to look after them, but instead subjected them to further mental trauma and anguish by mentally and in some cases physically abusing them.

Link: NHS Negligence Claims

An explosive undercover operation carried out by a Panorama reporter for the BBC, relied upon whistle-blowers providing accounts of abuse along with secret video footage which showed staff members abusing their position. The reporter spent three months undercover, as a support worker inside the centre.

Staff were shown to abuse their power by verbally abusing patients. There were occasions where patients were also physically abused by being slapped and even dragged across the floor. Further footage even showed a patient banging their head against the wall without intervention.

What is classed negligent medical care?

There is a two-stage test adopted in law which considers whether;

• The standard of care provided fell below a reasonable standard that the patient could expect to receive. This is known as breach of duty.  If this can be established then you need to show;
• That there was harm caused as a direct result of any breaches (this is causation).

Link: Examples of negligent NHS treatment

What can we do to help you?

If you or someone you know has suffered negligent medical treatment at Edenfield Centre or at any other Mental Health hospital, speak to TRUE today on 0344 854 7000. We have a team of highly experienced, compassionate specialists who can investigate a claim on your behalf.