A BBC Panorama undercover investigation has uncovered fresh evidence of abuse and neglect at the Edenfield Centre, a medium secure psychiatric unit in Prestwich, near Manchester. The journalist spent three months working as a healthcare support worker, secretly filming staff behaviour and patient conditions at the hospital, which is run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust.
The investigation found patients being locked in seclusion rooms for extended periods, with one woman reportedly confined for over a year. Seclusion is only supposed to be used in extreme cases to prevent harm, but staff described the practice as routine. Patients told the undercover reporter that the hospital was making their mental health worse.
Staff behaviour was described as 'juvenile' and 'actively cruel' at times. The journalist witnessed staff sleeping on shift, playing football while leaving patients unattended, and using offensive language. One support worker described a ward as a 'dangerous shit show', while another said the hospital was 'going to the dogs'.
The undercover reporter received only a one-day online induction before starting work, despite being responsible for vulnerable patients for up to 12 hours a day. Pay was £9.51 per hour, less than some supermarket roles. The trust has been contacted for comment on the findings.
