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Original poster

Serious life ending Sexual assault on a stroke ward

384 replies

mrshoho · 04/09/2025 09:44

Stroke 'played no part' in Blackpool hospital patient's death - BBC News https://share.google/E1kG2EjcGHJWiPXvA

Omfg. This is just horrendous. This poor woman. Bled to death on a stroke ward following a sexual assault on the ward. What on earth?

Valerie Kneale, with shoulder-length grey curly hair, wears a pink, lilac and green floral blouse as she is photographed in a garden. She is standing in front of a pebble-dashed house with a white plastic door and windows.

Stroke 'played no part' in Blackpool hospital patient's death

Valerie Kneale's inquest is told she died because of a "forcible sexual assault" while in hospital.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9neq9e7qqo

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Lalgarh · 06/09/2025 07:49

Slothtoes · 06/09/2025 07:43

What does that mean a news embargo? Why would that be needed?
Couldn’t there be a Mumsnet campaign on this? I don’t believe that Blackpool is some unique epicentre for sexual abuse and rape in hospital. I just find it terrifying that we have to entrust our families and friends and ourselves to these hospitals and yet this kind of thing can happen. We need much greater government action to secure in patient facilities.

and safety and safeguarding just to be built into the everyday practices of health professionals.

Are there any petitions to get safety on wards discussed in parliament. I would have thought this would be covered in the remit for the inquiry into institutional abuse

I've just done a search on petitions for Blackpool or for hospital abuse but nothing has come up

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions?q=Hospital+abuse&state=open

But there is this for every hospital patient to have a named advocate

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/731378

View all petitions - Petitions

Official online petitions in response to issues of the day, listing the number that got a Government response, and those that have been debated in the House of Parliament

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions?q=Hospital+abuse&state=open

Slothtoes · 06/09/2025 07:43

What does that mean a news embargo? Why would that be needed?
Couldn’t there be a Mumsnet campaign on this? I don’t believe that Blackpool is some unique epicentre for sexual abuse and rape in hospital. I just find it terrifying that we have to entrust our families and friends and ourselves to these hospitals and yet this kind of thing can happen. We need much greater government action to secure in patient facilities.

and safety and safeguarding just to be built into the everyday practices of health professionals.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 06/09/2025 07:40

It's extremely dangerous.
There is not enough staff.
Terrified patients will now bring weapons for protection. Hospital bag, slippers, nightgown, 12 inch blade, soap, face-cloth.
I can't imagine how hurt the family members are. 💔 The pain would be unbearable.

Lalgarh · 06/09/2025 07:29

I think there might be a news embargo, as someone up thread mentioned.

HarrietBond · 06/09/2025 07:07

“while we have seen an increase in the number of incidents, my gut instinct is that this reflects this new approach, where people are encouraged and supported to come forward.”

I don’t think the Trust should be making statements based on gut feeling.

The hospital failed to answer any questions about any arrests or disciplinary action arising from these complaints.

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 06/09/2025 07:02

Seems like the hospital still have a major problem

https://thelead.uk/blackpool-victoria-hospital-promises-listen-victims-after-figures-show-sex-attacks-rise

HarrietBond · 06/09/2025 06:54

BusterGonad · 06/09/2025 03:17

I think it was the male staff member mentioned above, he knew he'd get away with it as he's the one in charge at the time, and probably had many times before. I also think the police are sure it's him too but without evidence what can they do?

Edited

The person they initially arrested was older than him (51). I’m trying to work out if that would fit the man convicted of sexual assault above but I think he would also have been younger than that when the arrest was reported.

SoManyIdiotsSoLittleWine · 06/09/2025 04:00

LeftieRightsHoarder · 04/09/2025 10:18

The police investigation should absolutely be reopened, with high priority, to prevent more deaths.

Someone got away with sexually assaulting and killing a patient in hospital. Very high likelihood that such an attacker has assaulted unconscious victims before and since, being a bit more careful about hiding the evidence.

Cold cases may be difficult, but everyone there at the time is under suspicion until this is solved.

being a bit more careful about hiding the evidence.

Based on this I’d say he’d continue with abandon, no need to hide the evidence at all, apparently.

PennyRest · 06/09/2025 03:49

Oh my God. What have we come to?

BusterGonad · 06/09/2025 03:20

Luceeeee · 06/09/2025 02:58

This is one of the worst stories I’ve ever read. And we’re bigoted for wanting single sex spaces? Fuck off

Exactly.

BusterGonad · 06/09/2025 03:17

I think it was the male staff member mentioned above, he knew he'd get away with it as he's the one in charge at the time, and probably had many times before. I also think the police are sure it's him too but without evidence what can they do?

Luceeeee · 06/09/2025 02:58

This is one of the worst stories I’ve ever read. And we’re bigoted for wanting single sex spaces? Fuck off

basinbasin · 06/09/2025 02:53

This is shocking, the poor woman. Why is there such a culture of covering up & negligence in the NHS?

Someone2025 · 06/09/2025 01:32

mrshoho · 06/09/2025 00:01

Yes I can't imagine how her poor family could come to terms with what happened. To have to wait so long for the inquest and to still have no answers only adding to their pain.

Edited
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It’s a truly horrendous last memory to have of your mother / sister / wife

Spidey66 · 06/09/2025 00:54

I don't think it was other patients.....or if it was, staff were covering up forvthe fact it happened because they werent doing their jobs properly. As was mentioned in the article I linked to, many of those involved have since either been arrested, imprisoned, struck off the NMC register, or all three, for theft, including controlled drugs from the hospital, amongst other offences. The hospital clearly employed scum.

sosorryimnotsorry · 06/09/2025 00:52

Bloody Hell!! What have I just read? And why the hell has this not been headlined news?!!!
Poor Valerie! There really are no words!

Slothtoes · 06/09/2025 00:18

Christ this poor woman and her family. What a horrific crime. When will the NHS start taking patient security and safeguarding seriously?

LargeChestofDrawers · 06/09/2025 00:08

mrshoho · 04/09/2025 10:04

This beautiful woman, Valerie Kneale, so loved by her family who barely left her side while she was in that hospital. I will be writing to Wes Streeting. This shows just how unsafe hospitals are in this day and age. With all our cctv, security and monitoring. Surely the hospital should investigate all staff who had access in the short period. Everyone who had access to the ward should be investigated. If someone could do such a horrific assault they have probably previously done it and will go on doing it.

Unfortunately it's often other patients who can be a risk to other patients. Shame the CCTV is gone.

Original poster
mrshoho · 06/09/2025 00:01

Someone2025 · 05/09/2025 23:54

Maybe her family are quite private don’t want it to be in the media / news as people’s memories of her will be soiled by such a torrid event

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Yes I can't imagine how her poor family could come to terms with what happened. To have to wait so long for the inquest and to still have no answers only adding to their pain.

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Someone2025 · 05/09/2025 23:54

mrshoho · 05/09/2025 23:47

I'm struggling to understand how this is not main headline news. Poor Valerie was alert and stable when her family left her shortly before midnight and by the following morning she was unconscious and on end of life care. Was she seen as just a 75 year old woman not worthy of investigations and examinations by clinicians as to why she deteriorated so unexpectedly? Her family never left her side from that morning until she eventually died some days later. If the police had not been called in to investigate separate allegations on the ward Valerie's assault may never have been exposed. It really doesn't bare thinking of how many other cases such as this could have taken place. It does feel like we are witnessing a deliberate news embargo. Just saying that makes me feel stupid but I can't explain it.

Edited

Maybe her family are quite private don’t want it to be in the media / news as people’s memories of her will be soiled by such a torrid event

LoafofSellotape · 05/09/2025 23:54

mrshoho · 04/09/2025 09:55

The ward should have been closed. The entire hospital even. How can this just be swept under the carpet?

I can well imagine this happening. When my mother had a stroke she was in a mixed sex ward and the male dementia patients kept trying to get into bed with her. It was terrifying. The buzzers didn't work and so I bought her an alarm but she was scared to use it. I refused to leave one day until there was security put in place to stop men getting into the ward. The hospital shrugged when I complained.

Original poster
mrshoho · 05/09/2025 23:47

I'm struggling to understand how this is not main headline news. Poor Valerie was alert and stable when her family left her shortly before midnight and by the following morning she was unconscious and on end of life care. Was she seen as just a 75 year old woman not worthy of investigations and examinations by clinicians as to why she deteriorated so unexpectedly? Her family never left her side from that morning until she eventually died some days later. If the police had not been called in to investigate separate allegations on the ward Valerie's assault may never have been exposed. It really doesn't bare thinking of how many other cases such as this could have taken place. It does feel like we are witnessing a deliberate news embargo. Just saying that makes me feel stupid but I can't explain it.

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