Nurses ‘threw woman at door’

A WOMAN says she was dragged across a hospital corridor and thrown against a door in a North Somerset hospital.

The 34-year-old from east Bristol says she was left shaking and “terrified” as two male nurses allegedly dragged her by her arms and slammed her against a bedroom door.

The incident allegedly happened at private mental health facility Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, in Beach Road near Weston-super-Mare, on March

28.

The allegations come after police launched an investigation into allegations Hugo Allen was “badly beaten up” by staff during his stay at the same hospital between May 20 and July 1.

Two members of staff were suspended following Mr Allen’s claims and the hospital says any allegations are taken “very seriously”.

The woman allegedly mistreated on March 28 - a patient who did not wish to be named - complained to Cygnet bosses about the incident.

They looked at the CCTV, upheld her complaint that she was “inappropriately restrained” and no longer employ the two agency staff responsible.

Interim hospital manager Lesley Sturgeon said: “I am sorry that you had this experience whilst at Kewstoke and I would like to reassure you that we take complaints very seriously.

“We aim to investigate all complaints thoroughly and provide a full explanation of any issues raised in order to resolve concerns.”

The woman was in hospital between March 18 and April 4 after being sectioned following an attempt to take her own life.

She said: “I was terrified and visibly shaking and felt I was unable to protect myself. It was demeaning and embarrassing to be dragged around in such a way.

“The incident was terrifying and contributed further to the decline in my mental health, and I now endure flashbacks relating to the incident.”

A spokeswoman for Cygnet said management at the hospital took “immediate steps” to investigate the woman’s claim of unnecessary restraint and notified the CQC and other agencies. She added that the hospital “dispensed with the services” of the two nurses, who were employed by an agency, and advised the third party to conduct an investigation into its employees.

A spokeswoman for the healthcare watchdog CQC said the hospital is not under investigation. She said the watchdog was satisfied all reports of mistreatment had been handled appropriately.