Five health workers are charged after inquiry into drugged patients

FIVE HEALTHCARE professionals have been charged with criminal offences following allegations that patients were unlawfully sedated at a hospital.

Lancashire Police said three nurses and two healthcare assistants who worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital had been charged with offences including ill treatment relating to the unlawful sedation of patients, as well as the theft and supply of medication.

A police investigation was launched after concerns were raised with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2018. Yesterday police said Catherine Hudson, 52, of Coriander Close, Blackpool, was charged with seven counts of a care worker ill-treating/wilfully neglecting an individual, eight of conspiring to steal from an employer, one count of theft by employee and perverting the course of justice.

Charlotte Wilmot, 47, of Bowland Crescent, Blackpool, was charged with encouraging/ assisting in the commission of an offence believing it will be committed, relating to encouraging a nurse to sedate a patient, conspiring to ill treat a patient and four offences of conspiring to steal from an employer. Matthew Pover, 39, of Bearwood Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was charged with conspiring to steal from an employer, theft by an employee, supplying a Class C drug and offering to supply a Class C drug.

Victoria Holehouse, 31, of Riverside

Drive, Hambleton, was charged with two counts of conspiring to steal from an employer.

Marek Grabianowski, 45, of Montpelier Avenue, Bispham, was charged with three counts of conspiring to steal and one count of perverting the course of justice, police said.