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Original poster

Stroke patient, 75, died as she lay helpless in hospital bed *content warning - sexual assault MNHQ*

183 replies

FightingtheFoo · 11/05/2021 08:26

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9563237/Stroke-patient-75-died-sexually-assaulted-lay-helpless-hospital-bed.html

"A stroke patient 'died after being sexually assaulted' as she lay ill in a hospital bed, an inquest heard.
Valerie Kneale had been admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital following a stroke and had later broken her leg when falling from a chair.
The 75-year-old's condition deteriorated and she died four days later.

A male hospital worker was arrested on suspicion of murder, rape and sexual assault and has since been bailed pending further inquiries.
Opening the inquest, coroner for Blackpool and Fylde Alan Wilson said: 'Concerns had been raised about a potential injury around the genital area.
'This prompted a police investigation by Lancashire Constabulary.'

The autopsy revealed that although Mrs Kneale did have a significant stroke, the pathologist did not think it was the cause of death.
Mr Wilson said: 'She said that was due to an internal and external haemorrhage which was in turn due to a vaginal laceration or tear.'

The pathologists' report believed it was caused by a sexual assault after she was admitted to hospital.
Mrs Kneale died on November 16, 2018."

I am just full of rage. She was at her most vulnerable and was failed, yet again, by the system. We should be marching.

OP posts:
R0wantrees · 11/05/2021 11:41

@Leafstamp

I also don't understand why the thread title has been changed, the article itself says:

'A male hospital worker was arrested on suspicion of murder, rape and sexual assault'.

Stroke patients frequently die as they "lay-helpless-in-hospital-bed" The specific critical details about Valerie Kneale's death in Blackpool Victoria Hospital are that she, 'died after being sexually assaulted' and, "A male hospital worker was arrested on suspicion of murder, rape and sexual assault and has since been bailed pending further inquiries."

@MNHQ could the thread title please be reviewed out of respect to Valerie Kneale and also as this incident would be of concern to many members and it is obscured by the current title.

Miasicarisatia · 11/05/2021 11:37

Horrifying:(

Gullible2021 · 11/05/2021 11:36

@BoreOfWhabylon

In the olden days when I started nursing men never worked on female wards. The only exception was psychiatric wards Hmm
You had no male doctors at all?

I’m sorry but I find that hard to believe.

Sexnotgender · 11/05/2021 11:32

@DaisiesandButtercups

Maybe male nurses and support workers shouldn’t be allowed to work on any women’s wards in hospitals. And yes we should have women only wards.

Prioritise safeguarding.

I agree. Sad as it is and I’m sure there are plenty of men who wouldn’t dream of doing something so horrific but their feelings need to come second to safeguarding.
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/05/2021 11:31

I agree it should be single sex wards - how does that fit in with gender neutral and trans - massive can of worms.

It fits in because single sex is single sex, not single gender identity. So if you have a male patient, they should not be on the female ward. Male staff slightly different but maybe they should be accompanied when there are vulnerable girls and women.

BoreOfWhabylon · 11/05/2021 11:31

In the olden days when I started nursing men never worked on female wards. The only exception was psychiatric wards Hmm

Leafstamp · 11/05/2021 11:30

I also don't understand why the thread title has been changed, the article itself says:

'A male hospital worker was arrested on suspicion of murder, rape and sexual assault'.

SirVixofVixHall · 11/05/2021 11:30

@UpTheJunktion

He was bailed ? A suspected dangerous murderous sexually violet pervert was set loose?

Women’s safety really is of no importance is it?

And we get vilified for holding a vigil after being told we are responsible for protecting ourselves from male violence.

It really is unbelievable. Out on bail ! After raping a frail and ill elderly woman and killing her. Her life worth so little .
R0wantrees · 11/05/2021 11:29

This is horrific. The sexual abuse, murder of Valerie Kneale by a male employee, the inadequate response by those with a Duty of Care to female patients and staff and the reporting.

My thoughts are with all those affected.

Flowers
Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/05/2021 11:27

I had a stroke a couple of years ago and I can remember how terrified I was on the ward, feeling helpless and listening to people older and sicker than me screaming and shouting in fear. I am now lying in bed at home, absolutely terrified of having another one. I can’t stop shaking.

Thanks so sorry you went through that.

RedcurrantPuff · 11/05/2021 11:25

Omg, how horrific

That poor woman.

Whatwouldscullydo · 11/05/2021 11:25

Oh god Sad

That poor woman.

Absolutely horrific Angry

Ereshkigalangcleg · 11/05/2021 11:24

When you put "content warning: sexual assault" the sexual assault could have been at any time, and towards anyone in the news story. It completely obscures what's happened here.

OvaHere · 11/05/2021 11:23

This is so sickening. I agree the disgusting man who did this should not be out on bail. Targeting the elderly, poorly and vulnerable is on a level with targeting young children.

This poor woman was completely helpless and the worst thing about it is a hospital is somewhere she should have been safe and cared for. Her family must be devastated. Sad

GCAcademic · 11/05/2021 11:22

It completely proves the point that PPs have made about how this kind of attack is reported. FFS. I expected better from MN than from our shitty media.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 11/05/2021 11:21

GurlwiththeCurl

Heartofglass12345 · 11/05/2021 11:21

Oh my god SadAngryAngry

GCAcademic · 11/05/2021 11:21

Why has the thread title been changed to completely obliterate any mention of the horrific act of male violence that caused this poor woman's death? We really are not allowed to speak of male violence are we? She just happened to die as she lay helpless in bed? WTAF?

bitheby · 11/05/2021 11:17

They can't say that man raped woman until it's been proven in court though. The headline has to be written in such a way that it's legal otherwise it's prejudicing the trail. Innocent until proved guilty.

persistentwoman · 11/05/2021 11:09

So sorry GurlwiththeCurl Stories like this are so frightening I know.

Melroses · 11/05/2021 11:09

@GurlwiththeCurl

I had a stroke a couple of years ago and I can remember how terrified I was on the ward, feeling helpless and listening to people older and sicker than me screaming and shouting in fear. I am now lying in bed at home, absolutely terrified of having another one. I can’t stop shaking.
Many Hugs.
Sandgrown1970 · 11/05/2021 11:04

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/health/vic-murder-victim-died-from-horrific-genital-injury-inquest-is-told-as-medic-remains-on-bail-3231938?fbclid=IwAR3CDc_YQ3Ylg1756vnZQ81pT4_iexRMj-lWMJvBj01CGF4sU3yPElZkD2w

More information about this and all the cases at the stroke unit (patients died through overuse of Zoplicone) on the local newspapers site.

Why is someone who is under investigation for two rapes (including this lady), a sexual assault of a staff member and a murder of a patient on bail?!

So we could be at Tesco or in the park walking and encounter this evil scum? Why is that in the best interests of the public? Do the police magically think because he’s not on a ward anymore that he’s somehow safe to be out in public? He couldn’t control himself around his patients and colleagues. What if he encounters pretty much any woman in public ever?

Also, I’m sure from what I heard previously that this case was only discovered because of the investigations into the Zoplicone deaths. The cause of death wasn’t found until months later. I wonder how long this man was working there. Funerals were cancelled in the midst of the other investigations.

persistentwoman · 11/05/2021 11:04

Such an awful incident. The safety of women in hospitals is such a low priority. I wonder how much £££ is spent on measures to protect vulnerable women in hospital compared to the amount spent on pandering to male led groups demanding that males self identifying as women have the health service remodelled to meet their demands?

VenusTiger · 11/05/2021 11:01

@Marcia1989

And yet women are not entitled to single sex hospital wards.
Would that also mean no male medical staff at all on the wards (considering it was a male member of staff in the article)? How would that work? I agree it should be single sex wards - how does that fit in with gender neutral and trans - massive can of worms.
GurlwiththeCurl · 11/05/2021 10:59

I had a stroke a couple of years ago and I can remember how terrified I was on the ward, feeling helpless and listening to people older and sicker than me screaming and shouting in fear. I am now lying in bed at home, absolutely terrified of having another one. I can’t stop shaking.