Shocking Abuse in Mental Health facilities

Shocking figures from the NHS reveal that a single children’s mental health hospital, Taplow Manor, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, formerly privately run by Huntercombe Hospitals, with just 59 beds, reported more than 1,600 “sexual safety incidents” in the space of four years.  This figure made up 57 percent of the 2875 incidents of sexual incidents reported to Child & Adolescent Mental Heath Services (CAMHS).   

The figures show that Huntercombe Hospital was responsible for more than half of the allegations of sexual abuse reported across England’s 209 children’s mental health units. Despite the amount of allegations made against the private hospital, vulnerable children were still being placed there by the NHS.  The unit is now finally due to be closed after an investigation prompting the NHS to withdraw patients.

The figures lay bare the appalling scale of sexual incidents reported at Taplow Manor, although concerns had been raised previously in relation to Huntercombe Hospitals, which are now run by Active Care Group.

Last month it was reported that a further sexual assault, at a unit run by Active Care Group in Stafford, had been reported to the police. It was also recently revealed that Huntercombe Group closed its Watcombe Hall unit in Devon after a nurse, Marcus Daniell was convicted of the grooming and sexual abuse of three teenage girls who were patients at the unit.

Of the other private mental health providers in England, Cygnet Health Care reported 704 sexual incidents across four hospitals, with approximately 200 beds.

David Hawkins, a specialist in Child Abuse Law at Biscoes Solicitors said “The scale of the abuse reported at Taplow Manor is shocking and points to some serious systemic problems in the way young, vulnerable people are looked after in these units.  Young people with mental health issues are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society and should be able to feel safe in a therapeutic environment.”  If you, or a loved one, have been affected by these issues please do not hesitate to contact our experience team in complete confidence.