Panorama viewers have been left distressed and sickened by a report into the disgusting abuse suffered by patients at a hospital in County Durham.
On Wednesday night (May 22), extremely disturbing scenes showed vulnerable people being bullied, intimidated, mocked and violated by the very people who should have been looking after them.
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Investigative journalist Olivia Davies went undercover as a care worker to secretly film behaviour at Whorlton Hall hospital in County Durham.
And what she discovered – and captured on film with secret cameras – were staff seen cruelly abusing their patients, who suffered from a range of conditions, including autism and learning difficulties.
The episode of Panorama, entitled Undercover Hospital Abuse Scandal, showed vulnerable adults being deliberately provoked by staff who then had the excuse to physically restrain them.
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Secret filming showed staff members taunting patients, mocking them and intimidating them, instead of attempting to make them calm and encouraging their independence.
An autistic patient was told she was “[bleeping] poison”, while others were goaded into distressing situations. One staff member was filmed saying it was “so funny” as a patient was clearly in distress.
Another was caught on film using an abusive term to describe the residents.
A male staff member said he “wanted to kill” a vulnerable patient in another example of hospital workers “who couldn’t care less”.
An expert described the footage as “psychological torture”.
The Panorama investigation comes eight years after the programme exposed the scandal of abuse at Winterbourne View, another specialist hospital.
That scandal, which saw six people jailed, prompted a pledge by David Cameron to close similar facilities within two years.
Then, the government promised to reform care for the most vulnerable. Now they stand accused of failing to keep that promise by families, campaigners and whistleblowers.
We’re told the staff members featured on the documentary have since been suspended.
Those watching from home were deeply upset by what they saw, with one tweeting: “Three minutes into #Panorama and I’m already horrified.
“This is my absolute nightmare for anyone who is already SO vulnerable and doesn’t have the capacity to protect themselves. A totally different breed of evil.”
Absolutely horrified at the abuse on #Panorama. I hope the staff never get a job in care again.
— Louise (@Louise68732017) May 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/AndrewMorganRCT/status/1131294096738398208
3 minutes into #Panorama and I'm already horrified. This is my absolute nightmare for anyone who is already SO vulnerable and doesn't have the capacity to protect themselves. A totally different breed of evil.
— Laura Batt (@LauraBatt22) May 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/huntanne/status/1131303183786094592
https://twitter.com/pussycat8989/status/1131294903881949190
Feel sick to the stomach watching these so called Carer’s abusing the suffering is beyond belief. #panorama
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) May 22, 2019
They shouldn’t just be sacked they should be sent to prison! #Panorama #hospitalabusescandal #UNDERCOVER
— Quinonostante (@Quinonostante) May 22, 2019
‘16 members of staff have been suspended…’
I would suggest that ‘sacked and charged’ would be more appropriate. #Panorama
— Rufus_Dog (@_Rufus_Dog_) May 22, 2019
Having a severely autistic son I'm incandescent with rage. This needs to be a watershed moment and that place needs to be closed ASAP. Where are the management? nurses? etc This is hell on earth for The most needy and vulnerable #UnderCoverHospital#Panorama
— Futurefilm (@futurefilm1) May 22, 2019
Another said: “Watching this is frankly shocking, I hope each and every member of staff involved is sacked and then considered for prosecution for abusing these patients. Sickening for families to see this happening to loved ones.”
A third added: “Feel sick to the stomach watching these so-called carers abusing the suffering. It’s beyond belief #Panorama.”