Serious life ending Sexual assault on a stroke ward

[mrshoho]

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?

Oh my God. What have we come to?

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.

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.

Seems like the hospital still have a major problem

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

“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.

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

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.

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

I believe the world is just as savage as it was in less civilised times, we've been foolishly lead into a false sense of security, it's extremely dangerous for women everywhere. I can't see things improving, society has gone backwards, the vicious 24 online porn cycle, red rooms, child abuse.
I read a comment on dangers during pregnancy, the largest cause of female death during pregnancy is male violence. 😑

Rising Sexual Violence Against Older Patients in NHS Hospitals | Hourglass | Hourglass https://share.google/dnXyMHlHBlplu2kj1

The research follows a study produced in 2021, inspired by the case of Valerie Kneale who passed away due to injuries from a sexual assault in Blackpool Victoria Hospital. It found that 75 cases of sexual abuse committed by staff were recorded from 2016 to 2021.

This new research, released today has revealed that in just three years, that number has more than tripled.

This research is only on assaults of older patients and I am sure for every case uncovered there will be more that have gone on.

The research also found that the majority of victims of this sexual violence were not referred to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) or specialist services, with a total of 127 victims not referred for support following the abuse.

How we are treating our elderly in this day and age.

Hospitals are a frightening and dangerous place when you are in an already vulnerable state.

When someone is assaulted in the street it tends to get reported but in Hospitals there appears to be secrecy and cover ups.

Horrific case. Why is it only coming out now?

Reminds me of this case. This pond scum claimed asylum.from Nigeria to Ireland around 2019 and worked in care homes where he raped at least 9 women. Was he in England before perhaps? There are no direct flights from Nigeria to Ireland.

m.independent.ie/irish-news/we-never-thought-a-rapist-could-be-stalking-our-mams-care-home/a1133733655.html

What do we want to ask for?

The police investigation to be re-opened, and a full overhaul of the hospital's policies and procedures? There's a new women in charge, since April, according to the article upthread.

And/or a wider campaign on women's safety in hospitals?

It needs focus, and perhaps the involvement of some people local to the area, including the MP, etc.

Women's safety in hospitals and care homes.

Hourglass looks like its doing good work on this already. Maybe Mumsnet could work with them?

Thanks very much for looking into this. I’ll have to think about the petition linked to. Probably it’s not for me. I worry about the equity of that suggestion though I can see it would be really helpful for some people.

If it becomes a right that all adult patients can bring someone in to stay with them into hospital (as currently only children can), then that could make adult wards less secure by introducing more people on to them. They wouldn’t be like visitors who can be told to go.

It also could mean a retreat from personal care etc as wards become places where your advocate or visitors come in every day to wash you and bring your meals, which happens in lower income countries. Then the people who have nobody- which is a lot of elderly people- would be much worse off than they might be now. Something to think about anyway.

I’ve read quite a few horror stories on here from women on postnatal wards where partners stayed over so would share concerns about this being a blanket policy across hospitals.

If doing a petition you need it to be something the government can do, so they can’t reopen a police investigation for example. Or change an individual hospital’s policies.

I agree that it’s women’s (and girls) safety in hospitals and care homes.

Might need to be run as two separate campaigns because hospitals and care homes are run so differently the solutions would need to be different and different laws apply.

Omg. Horrific. I couldn't read the entire article but you would hope his previous locations were investigated.

That's shocking.
It's heartbreaking.
MEN are beasts. namalt before I am corrected.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/26475/lorraine_beavers/blackpool_north_and_fleetwood

Lorraine Beavers is MP for Blackpool North. She's talked about local HCAs striking for higher wages in parliament.

Yes it's a national issue across the entire NHS. I believe the government must be aware of what is happening in our hospitals. I agree that carehomes are a separate area but equally vulnerable to this type of abuse. It appears that nights are the most dangerous timeframe. Single sex wards are vital. I would go further that single sex care should be standard but I'm also aware of staff shortages particularly for night shifts.

I wouldn’t be so sure. Most of the asylum seekers in Ireland destroy their documents so they don’t know their real names or where they have been before.

https://www.newstalk.com/news/85-of-asylum-seekers-arrive-at-dublin-airport-without-identity-documents-1646914

Vulnerabke women should only be looked after by other women. It shouldn’t be that hard as most nurses/health care workers are women.

'The perpetrators of this abuse were most frequently found to be nurses or nursing assistants, the majority of victims were female and 85% of alleged perpetrators being male.'

That's stark, and unsurprising. Single.sex care absolutely looks like a no brainer.

(From the Hourglass research quoted upthread)

I told my DH a few years ago if I end up losing capacity and in care or hospital I demand single sex care. That was after I read about a poor woman with dementia being raped in a care home by a care worker. Many men are sick.