Inquiry into hospital abuse claims

Four members of the hospital staff remain suspended

An independent investigation is beginning into allegations that elderly people were physically and mentally abused on a hospital ward in Manchester.

The abuse is alleged to have happened over a number of years at Healy House, in Withington Hospital.

The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) was called in after a member of staff alerted the authorities in August.

Four members of the hospital's staff remain suspended and an agency nurse has been disciplined.

We thought this was serious enough to warrant an external investigation

Greater Manchester Health Authority spokesman

The whistle-blower was a member of staff who worked on Rowan Ward, which caters for 12 elderly people.

About 20 staff are normally employed on the ward looking after elderly people with long term mental health problems.

Greater Manchester Health Authority has claimed there was a "climate of casual violence" towards patients on the ward.

A spokesman added: "We thought this was serious enough to warrant an external investigation.

"The CHI will be visiting the ward next week and will be able to look into what internal cultures could have allowed this to go on."

The authority has confirmed that no-one had died as a result of the alleged abuse and also apologised to families on behalf of the NHS.