WORKER WHO FACED SEX ATTACK CLAIMS WAS STILL EMPLOYED BY NHS WHEN HE KILLED
AHEALTH care worker who had been investigated for sexually abusing vulnerable patients was still employed by the NHS when he murdered a grandmother in her home, it has been confirmed.
Kris Wade, 37, was jailed for life last week, with a minimum tariff of 21 years, after slashing the throat of his neighbour, company director Christine James.
The 65-year-old was due to fly off on a family holiday to Florida, having started a new life in a Cardiff Bay flat after splitting from her husband of more than 30 years.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board has now pledged to review their processes to see if there are “lessons to be learned”.
“This individual had initially been suspended following accusations of sexual abuse in his employment,” a source close to ABMU said.
“He was later reinstated with no further repercussions only for similar accusations to be made again.
“This time, he was transferred to another unit of the same type and made to work nights only.
“The accusations centred around going in to service users’ rooms and locking the door before allegedly assaulting them in their sleep, so nights heightened the risk, in my opinion, and did not diminish it.
“This individual then disappeared from the service.”
The source questions if he may have been suspended on full pay.
“He was only sacked once the murder investigation took place.”
Wade was charged with murder in March. But he was not dismissed by ABMU until April.
“With this type of accusation, you’d think more would be done considering the individuals involved and the responsibility of the NHS,” the source said.
Wade worked at the assessment and treatment unit for people with learning disabilities from 2005.
“I believe there are some systemic failings within the NHS knowing what happened in this regard,” the source said.
“I am deeply concerned abou this health board. Perhaps having been placed in ‘targeted interventions’ by the Welsh Government very recently, there should be a call for this to be escalated to being under special measures.”
Bethan Jenkins AM feared there was an “air of complacency from senior management” at ABMU.
“If there had been these cas- es previously and he was only sacked when the murder charge came through, I would say they need to look again at their procedures, because the other allegations were quite serious,” she said.
“Why did it take a very serious incident for ABMU to finally act?
“There has to be a way in which people can be innocent until proven guilty. But when there is a pattern of activity that has to be something the health board looks at.
“I may raise this at minister’s questions next week, I’m happy to do that.”
ABMU said the first allegation against Wade was made in January 2012.
“Mr Wade was given special leave while the health board instigated a multi-agency Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) review, involving South Wales Police,” a spokeswoman said.
“However, the outcome at that time was that there was insufficient evidence for further action to be taken.”
Mr Wade returned to work in another part of the health board in April 2012.
“He did not return as the patient who had made the complaint was still resident there,” the spokeswoman said.
“A second complaint of sexual assault was then made in October 2012, and Mr Wade was suspended.
“A third complaint was also made in 2013.
“Mr Wade remained suspended from October 2012 until his dismissal earlier this year.”
During his suspension POVA investigations were carried out into both of the new allegations.
There was a criminal investigation by South Wales Police.
“Although no further action was taken by police, the eventual conclusion of the health board’s own internal disciplinary procedures into the complaints resulted in Mr Wade’s employment being terminated earlier this year, for gross misconduct,” the spokeswoman said.
“The disciplinary hearing against Mr Wade, which heard the evidence regarding the allegations of sexual assault, was held in December 2015.
“The letter of dismissal was sent to him in April 2016, fol- lowing the conclusion of HR procedures.”
A criminal records check was carried out before Wade was first employed by the NHS.
ABMU were not aware “of any other concerns being raised about his behaviour”.
“We will now be reviewing our processes to see if there are any lessons to be learned,” the spokeswoman said.
The Crown Prosecution Service was advised not to charge Wade with the sex attacks in 2013.
“The case file provided by the police was reviewed by specialist lawyers, who concluded that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction,” a spokesman said.
“CPS charging decisions are taken purely on the basis of the evidential and public interest standards set out in the code for crown prosecutors.”
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales has recently examined the unit where Wade worked.
“The findings from this inspection will be published on our website in October,” a spokeswoman said.
South Wales Police said: “Between 2012 and 2013, South Wales Police investigated three separate allegations that patients in the centre in Cardiff had been sexually assaulted by a member of staff.
“As part of those investigations, a man, who was in his 30s at the time, was voluntarily questioned by officers.
“In each case no further action could be taken following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.”