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

[FightingtheFoo]

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.

I think we all know that if there were such a thing as an all-female community it wouldn't be long before a gang of males targeted it and forced their way in.

@Sexnotgender

I couldn’t agree more, it’s well over due!

Unfortunately we’re moving further away from it being a possibility.

I know you’re right but FFS. It makes me wish I’d not had children. Women and girls aren’t safe anywhere, and that so often includes their own homes.

I think the title needs to be changed back. These utterly horrendous acts are being done by men to women and we have to face up to the facts, not obscure them. Yes it is upsetting, yes we would love it not to happen but obscuring what the issues are is not in anyone’s interest. Every health trust should be re-examining their policies on safeguarding and bloody well acting to change them to sex segregated, chaperones provided, and women and girls entitled to ask for female care givers. And we absolutely need to know this is happening. Raging and now furious with MN .

This is so shocking. It happened in the NHS, in England. Seems surreal, particularly as there also were multiple victims and patient poisoning deaths. Wtf? That hospital isn’t fit for purpose. It’s also disheartening that he cause of death wasn’t established until 6 months after she died - up until that point presumably everyone thought it was due to her stroke.

Then the murder suspect has been released on bail? Ridiculous. He’s under investigation for raping 3 women unknown to him, so what makes the police sure he’s not a danger to the public?

You would have thought the police would prioritise this investigation yet 2 years later it’s still in limbo. I know it is complex but after 2 years with no progress it is disheartening.

I was in hospital overnight recently following an urgent operation. I was on a mixed ward, split into single sex(?) 4-bed bays. I was with two other (elderly) women, the fourth bed was free. Overnight, the hourly/two-hourly observations (blood pressure, temp, etc) were conducted by two men, one of whom spend the time between obs on his phone on the spare bed. All three of us women were vulnerable and also having had operations on our throats, unable to make much noise. I didn't sleep at all for various reasons, but found this disturbing.

I too think the thread title change has completely removed the entire meaning.

@Thelnebriati

This question might not seem relevant now, but will this case be counted by the ONS or do they still impose an arbitrary upper age limit on rape statistics?

Ah yes. The age cut-off point beyond which rapes aren't even counted in statistics. Was it aged 70? I can't remember.

Why are elderly, frail women not even counted in sex crime statistics? Is it because there are so many? Or is it because no one gives a fuck?

Or both.

This is disgusting

We need women specific wards and men - it trans women - should not be left alone with female patients.

I want to run away and live in an all-female community.

Take me with you please

Sign me up for that too please

How about 'a male hospital employee has been arrested for sexually assaulting a female patient who then died from her injuries'.

Horrific. That man deserves the death penalty in my opinion. What's the point of leaving someone like that at large in the world?

I also opened this thinking it was about hospital neglect. So upset by this story but it definitely needs to be told. Just horrifying!

That there is even a question about whether women should be entitled to single sex wards - in hospital, where they are at their most vulnerable - is offensive.

Unfortunately it was a hospital worker. It would be virtually impossible to maintain a reasonable level of service if all staff had to be female (porters, cleaners, catering staff etc not just drs and nurses).

I do think that this thing will become more common due to the increased use of private rooms. The loss of eyes-on monitoring is a definite downside of private/ single person rooms.

That poor woman. I am speechless.

And yes, its horrific and such things should not happen (I would that was obvious).

Without even searching I can guarantee that there is a genre of porn related to this subject.

@GCAcademic

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?

Have been at work and only just come back on and noticed the title change.

@OvaHere

What was the original title?

"Stroke patient, 75, died after being raped as she lay helpless in hospital bed"

Obviously I realised it's shocking but that's because it fucking IS shocking. That this could have happened at all. That it took months to find out. That this cumstain is out on bail.

Really disappointed the thread title has been changed @mnhq. We should not shy away from depriving these depraved acts - we need to spell them out for people so they know exactly what's at stake.

Bailed? Fucking bailed? The safety of women and girls despite all the handwringing and cries to stop VAWG just doesn't matter one iota.

@Allthereindeersaregirls

That there is even a question about whether women should be entitled to single sex wards - in hospital, where they are at their most vulnerable - is offensive.

Unfortunately it was a hospital worker. It would be virtually impossible to maintain a reasonable level of service if all staff had to be female (porters, cleaners, catering staff etc not just drs and nurses).

I do think that this thing will become more common due to the increased use of private rooms. The loss of eyes-on monitoring is a definite downside of private/ single person rooms.

• Single sex wards
• chaperones for all male staff dealing with female patients
• only female staff to administer personal care to female patients

Pretty straightforward.

@AnneofScreamFables

How about 'a male hospital employee has been arrested for sexually assaulting a female patient who then died from her injuries'.

Even "sexual assault" is too oblique. Sexual assault could be a passing grope.

She was raped so violently she had internal and external haemorrhaging.

It needs to happen. It needs to be made to happen, and society has to pay for it and to continue paying for it until we tackle male violence effectively.

Internal and external haemorrhage. What the hell was he doing?! Disgusting.

I hope the sister of the ward has resigned. What total failure.

• Single sex wards
• chaperones for all male staff dealing with female patients
• only female staff to administer personal care to female patients

Yes, a million times yes. Easy, simple, straightforward. If men don't like it, tough shit.

I was hospitalised in a.n.other country and no male attended me without a female in tow.