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Here is today's Mancunian Way:
This evening the BBC is set to broadcast video footage of patients allegedly being mistreated at a mental health unit in Prestwich.
Manchester Evening News chief reporter Neal Keeling has been reporting on issues within the NHS trust which runs that unit for the last two years.
It has now emerged that the BBC's Panorama programme sent an undercover reporter to work at The Edenfield Centre - based in the grounds of the former Prestwich Hospital - and film evidence of a 'toxic' staff culture.
Police are investigating the alleged mistreatment of patients and are reviewing the footage with the Crown Prosecution Service. The allegations are thought to involve 40 patients and 25 staff at The Edenfield Centre.
More than a dozen staff have been suspended and the centre - which helps adult mental health patients and works mainly with those who have been in prison or admitted to hospital following criminal offences. It is currently closed to new admissions. Senior doctors have undertaken clinical reviews of the patients affected and an independent clinical review has been undertaken.
Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust - which runs the Edenfield Unit - has told stakeholders that the claims stem from ‘secret filming’ conducted by Panorama. "It appears in general terms that Panorama may allege unprofessional, unsafe, and uncaring practices with a focus on staff shortages, language and communication with patients and inappropriate use of restraint practices. We believe the BBC will allege a neglectful approach to the provision of services at the Edenfield Centre and a toxic staff culture," the trust said in a letter.
The Trust is already under scrutiny after three young people died within nine months at other units for young people at the Prestwich facility. Rowan Thompson, 18, died while a patient in October 2020 followed by Charlie Millers, 17, in December that year and Ania Sohail, 21, in June last year. Inquests into all three cases are pending.
Neal, who has been following those cases closely - as well as the latest allegations facing the Edenfield Centre - was contacted in December 2020 by the mother of one the three young people who died in a unit at the Prestwich site.
“I did a story on her concerns which led to a bigger article about all three deaths,” he explains. “The CQC then expressed concern about the three fatalities and the Trust commissioned an independent review - which they are refusing to publish. All this resulted in another half dozen stories.
“Inquests will be held into all three deaths in the coming months, as each was controversial. I think, with the help of the families of two of the young people who died we have lifted the lid on serious issues within the Trust."
Undercover Hospital: Patients at Risk will air on BBC One at 9pm tonight.
Crashing the pork market
Labour conference ended with a bang as deputy leader Angela Rayner took to the podium with a joke-laden speech. Taking a pop at the Conservatives once again she said: “Tough on crime? They brought crime to Number 10. Defenders of the free market? The market’s in free-fall. England’s green and pleasant land? Frack it.
“From the party of stability to causing earthquakes. From the party of business to a slap down from the IMF. From the party of serious government to the party of parties. Liz Truss has even crashed the pork market. Now that is a disgrace. You’d think that snouts in the trough was the one thing they could manage.”
Labour has made a number of ambitious pledges in recent days outlining plans to set up a publicly-owned energy company, boost council house building and homeownership and fully fund breakfast clubs for all primary age children. Party members are said to be in a buoyant mood following a series of poll leads over the Tories.
This morning, leader Keir Starmer told Radio 4’s Today programme the nation needs a ‘serious person steering the country calmly and competently to a better future. “If I came on here and said I’ve done a bungee jump, you wouldn’t say: ‘Well, great, now we’ve got the prime minister we need,’” he added.
Weather, etc.
- Thursday: Light showers changing to sunny by late morning. 17C.
- Roads closed: A57 Eccles New Road westbound from Stott Lane to Gilda Brook Road until October 8. Snake Pass in both directions between Ladybower Reservoir and Hurst Road until October 23.
- Rail passengers urged only to travel if necessary on Saturday due to strike action.
Manchester headlines
Shootings: Residents of Oldham, Harpurhey and Moston have spoken of their unease following three shootings in their neighbourhoods in just over a week. Shots were fired by three men in balaclavas on Belmont Street, in Oldham, on Sept 19. They were followed by firearms incidents in Harpurhey and Moston last Friday and Monday. No arrests have been made.
999: Greater Manchester Police has significantly slashed the time it takes call handlers to answer 999 calls. Callers were waiting an average of 89 seconds for an answer 12 months ago. Handlers are now reportedly answering calls in one second.
New homes: Work has started on 68 affordable homes in New Islington. The £12.8m Great Places project on Downley Drive will feature 23 two-and-three-bedroom houses available for shared ownership, and 45 one and two-bedroom apartments available for social rent - set at 60 percent of the market value.
Worth a read
Ike Alterman is one of a few remaining Holocaust survivors still alive to tell their story. He survived four death camps and was one of around 700 Jewish children sent to Great Britain at the end of the war.
His friend Raphi Bloom runs the My Voice project, which helps Holocaust survivors and refugees, who settled in Greater Manchester after the Second World War, to document their lives in individual books and podcasts.
Raphi has written a moving and eye-opening piece about travelling with his friend to the former Treblinka extermination camp, where Ike's mother, sister and brother were murdered by the Nazis.
That's all for today
Email: beth.abbit@menmedia.co.uk if you have stories you would like us to look into. If you enjoyed this newsletter, why not tell a friend how to sign up?
