Allegations centre on humiliation of vulnerable young people
By Ian Birch
An investigation is underway into very disturbing allegations of abuse at a Newcastle psychiatric unit for vunlerable teenagers.
According to the Newcastle Chronicle, several members of staff have been suspended over the claims at the Roycroft Unit at the St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth.
The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust declined to respond to Mental Healthy’s request for an interview or comment, but its website says St Nicholas provides a range of clinical services, including Adult Forensic Medium and Low Secure and Children and Young People's Medium Secure services.
It is of great concern that St Nicholas is also the corporate base of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
According to The Chronicle, initially two people, a senior qualified nurse and a support worker, were suspended, but as the internal investigation progressed, a further five staff comprising nurses and support workers were also suspended as it is alleged they failed to report the abuse.
A former NHS employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Chronicle there was a “culture of abuse” at the clinic. They said: “This has been about humiliating and controlling vulnerable young people. This should have been a process of therapy and rehabilitation for them but it wasn’t, instead they have been treated terribly by nurses and support staff.”
A spokesman for Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust told the paper: “The trust is undertaking an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour by two members of staff at one of our units. Our priority is always to ensure the on-going safety and well-being of our patients and, in line with our policy of zero tolerance for any inappropriate or potentially abusive behaviour, the trust has taken immediate action and suspended the two members of staff.
“In addition the trust does not tolerate any members of staff who may have witnessed inappropriate behaviour and who fail to report it. As a result of the on-going investigation, a further five members of staff have been suspended. In the meantime all actions have been taken to ensure that appropriate staffing levels on the unit are maintained by qualified and experienced staff from other parts of the organisation.”
