The University of Salford has cut ties with the Edenfield Centre mental health hospital after allegations of patients being ‘humiliated’ and bullied.
Last week the BBC aired a new Panorama episode which investigated claims that staff at the Edenfield Centre, in Prestwich, have been abusive towards patients.
The documentary showed undercover footage of the hospital staff restraining patients, making rude remarks, and laughing about their mental state.
Until this investigation the University of Salford worked alongside the Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust, who runs the Edenfield Centre, providing students with the opportunity to work at the centre.
A university spokesperson said: “Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) provides placements for a number of universities and across professions.
“All of our students who were on placement or due to attend placement at the Edenfield Centre are now being moved to alternatives.
“The wellbeing of our students is our top priority, and we have been in touch with all affected students to offer support.”
Eleven students at the university who are working with Edenfield Centre will be given the choice to continue with their placement or seek other options.
Those without placement but wanting to work with centers like Edenfield will also be offered other options.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Mental Health said: “We are taking these allegations very seriously and have put in place immediate actions to protect patient safety since BBC Panorama raised these issues with us earlier this month.
“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 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.”
According to the Panorama report, the Greater Manchester Police have opened up a criminal investigation on the matter.
The Care Quality Commission, the national health regulator who previously gave the Edenfield Centre a “good” rating, has decided to suspend its rating of the centre until the new information is fully assessed.
Jemima Burnage, CQC’s Interim Director of Mental Health, said: “The footage shown by Panorama is shocking.
“We are in close contact with the trust and other agencies including the police and relevant local authorities to ensure the safety of patients being treated at the Edenfield Centre.
“We inspected the forensic services provided at the Edenfield Centre in June and July this year.
“The findings from this inspection are due to be published soon.
“Prior to that, we inspected the forensic services in June and July 2019, partly in response to concerns about staffing and leadership, and rated the services requires improvement for safety and good overall.
“This rating is currently suspended while we finalise the findings from our most recent inspection.”
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