Watchdog finds cases of sex abuse at health trust

Patient-on-patient sexual abuse at a troubled mental health trust has been revealed by a watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission carried out inspections at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in June and July after whistleblowers raised concerns about patient safety.

A report by the watchdog found that, in the previous six months, there had been 26 incidents relating to patients’ sexual safety on mixed wards.

“This included sexual advances and threats to female patients, coercive sexual contact, disinhibited behaviour, indecent exposure and sexual harassment,” it said.