A mental health trust, which was the subject of a 2022 BBC Panorama investigation uncovering abuse and mistreatment of patients, has been rated as inadequate once again. This comes despite efforts by the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) to address issues and make improvements. The trust, which oversees the Edenfield Centre in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, remains under scrutiny after the 2022 revelations of a “toxic culture” where patients were subjected to humiliation, bullying, and neglect.
In the latest report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in April and May 2024, the GMMH was given an overall rating of “inadequate” for its forensic inpatient and secure wards. The CQC highlighted persistent issues with patient safety, staff pressure, and the continued difficulty for some staff to voice their concerns. Despite some progress, the trust’s leadership has failed to fully address the core issues that were previously identified.
Alison Chilton, deputy director of operations in the north at the CQC, explained that the trust’s processes were still falling short of ensuring a safe environment for patients. For example, inspectors found gaps in the ward security checks, with missing signatures in records meant to ensure patients’ safety. Additionally, the trust was criticized for requiring staff to carry out lengthy observations without sufficient breaks, leaving them overstretched and at risk of burnout.
Other significant concerns included the failure to identify risks related to ligature points—areas where patients could potentially harm themselves—along with the unsafe management of medicines. Chilton also pointed to a worrying trend of restrictive practices across several wards within the trust, which were implemented without clear justification or regular review, as well as a lack of evidence supporting some blanket restrictions imposed on patients.
There were also reports of a deep “cultural divide” within the trust, with allegations of bullying among staff and management, further complicating efforts to create a healthy and open working environment. This culture of fear and suppression of bad news, highlighted in the independent report following the Panorama investigation, continues to plague the trust, despite changes in leadership.
The Panorama investigation, which aired in 2022, led to an internal review that uncovered the most shocking abuse at the Edenfield Centre, with instances of physical mistreatment and neglect. The program triggered a wider investigation by Prof Oliver Shanley OBE, who reported that the trust had repeatedly missed opportunities to intervene, and that concerns raised by families about patient safety were often dismissed.
In response to the latest CQC report, GMMH acknowledged the shortcomings and accepted the findings. They emphasized that they had worked diligently to address past issues and would continue to focus on improving care under new leadership. Salli Midgley, the chief nurse at GMMH, expressed regret for the past failings but reiterated the trust’s commitment to improving patient care. “We are focused on getting the fundamentals of care right every time for our service users, their families, and carers,” she said.
Despite these assurances, the ongoing issues at the Edenfield Centre continue to raise doubts about the effectiveness of the trust’s reforms. Some staff who were implicated in the Panorama investigation were dismissed, but the broader culture of abuse and neglect has not yet been fully eradicated. While there are signs of progress in areas such as staff compassion, safety, and leadership, the latest report makes it clear that much work remains to be done before the trust can be considered a safe place for patients and staff alike.
The saga of the Edenfield Centre is a stark reminder of the importance of transparent leadership and a culture that prioritizes the well-being of patients. While the GMMH has shown some commitment to improvement, only time will tell if these efforts are sufficient to restore trust and ensure that vulnerable patients are treated with the respect and care they deserve.
