Six nurses arrested over suspected abuse at elderly care home

Six nurses are being questioned by police about the suspected abuse of elderly
residents on an acute dementia wing of a care home, police revealed today.

The arrests followed a five-month investigation into a number of alleged
incidents of mistreatment and neglect at the Throstle Grove nursing home run
by the Hillcroft Group in Slyne-with-Hest, near Lancaster.

The alleged incidents are said to have taken place in the Challenging
Behaviour Unit which cares for vulnerable patients with advanced
Alzheimer's.

The five nurses and one matron, who no longer works at the care home, were
arrested at separate addresses across Lancaster and Morecambe early today.
Two men, aged 34, and 26, and four women, aged 26, 27, 53 and 59, were being
interviewed throughout the day about the alleged neglect, ill treatment and
physical abuse of residents. They were held under the Mental Capacity Act,
2006, and Mental Health Act, 1983.

Police were originally called to the home in May after a complaint was made by
Lancashire County Council's Adult Services Social Care department about the
level of care provided to some residents. The allegations date back to
December 2010. The most recent was in February this year.

The arrests were the result of a lengthy investigation by the Lancashire
Constabulary's Force Major Investigation Team.

The nursing home's brochure says the £700-a-week home is "committed to
quality" offering a warm, friendly and homely atmosphere. It stresses that
all the nurses are trained to the highest standards.

The healthcare agencies have launched their own review, called a significant
incident learning review, to run in tandem with the police investigation.

Chief Superintendent Richard Bayly, a divisional commander, said: "These
arrests are the culmination of a thorough investigation into serious
allegations of mistreatment of residents at Hillcroft Slyne nursing home.

"The inquiry is complicated and we have a team of specialist detectives
working on this case who are also offering support to those families who may
have had loved ones identified as being allegedly mistreated.

"Our priority at the outset has been to ensure the safety of patients within
the Slyne home and the constabulary is working closely with Lancashire
County Council's adult services department and NHS North Lancashire to
ensure that any safeguarding issues are addressed immediately."

John Ayrton, managing director of Hillcroft Nursing Homes, which runs five
homes in Lancaster and Morecambe, said: "We wish to confirm that since the
incidents were brought to our attention we have fully co-operated with the
police investigation and continue to work closely with Lancashire County
Council, the Care Quality Commission and North Lancashire Primary Care
Trust."

Steve Gross, Lancashire County Council's director of commissioning, said:
"Together with our NHS partners, we have been supporting the police in their
investigation of the alleged mistreatment of a number of residents in
Hillcroft Nursing Home in Slyne-with-Hest, near Lancaster.

"Throughout the investigation, our primary concern has been the safety and
wellbeing of everyone living at the home.

"Together with our colleagues from NHS North Lancashire, we took immediate
action to ensure that residents are safe and well cared for, and we are
continuing to monitor the home very closely to make sure the proper
standards of care are maintained."

Source:
http://www.ezonearticle.com/2012/10/10/six-nurses-arrested-over-suspected-abuse-at-elderly-care-home/