Police have arrested 10 workers as part of an investigation into alleged abuse of patients by staff at a privately run, NHS-funded hospital for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Seven men and three women, who were all members of staff at Whorlton Hall hospital, were arrested on Friday morning and are being questioned about abuse and neglect offences, Durham Constabulary said.
The Independent revealed earlier this month that police had launched an investigation into allegations of ‘physical and psychological’ abuse at the privately run hospital in Country Durham.
This was triggered by a two-month undercover investigation by the BBC’s Panorama, which aired footage on Wednesday showing staff threatening and taunting patients and apparently boasting about deliberately hurting them.
The hospital is currently run by Cygnet Health Care, the UK arm of major US hospital chain Universal Health Services, though it acquired Whorlton Hall last year after a takeover of the Danshell Group.
Cygnet suspended 16 staff when allegations of abuse were first made, it has now moved patients out of the hospital into other facilities.
It has said it is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the allegations.
A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “As this is an ongoing inquiry, we are unable to comment further at this time, other than to repeat that our immediate priority has been to work with other agencies to safeguard the victims at the centre of the allegations and their families.
“The investigation is at an early stage and is expected to take some time to complete.”
Yesterday it was revealed that multiple visits by the Care Quality Commission watchdog, local authority safeguarding teams, and NHS bodies had not found any concerns.
