Shocking moment rehab centre worker HAWLS terrified elderly patient from his wheelchair to the floor as regulator issues damning report on brain injury unit
- Distressing footage shows a man in wheelchair being pushed on to the concrete
- Happened outside Olive Carter Unit at Hunters Moor Neurorehabilitation Centre
- The staff member was later sacked and other staff no longer work at the service
A vulnerable patient at a brain injury rehabilitation centre was toppled from his wheelchair by a member of staff.
Distressing footage shows the man falling on to the concrete outside The Olive Carter Unit at Hunters Moor Neurorehabilitation Centre for the West Midlands, in Hall Green.
The staff member, who was later sacked, can be seen pushing the patient out of his chair during the shocking incident in May last year.
Others who had worked at the centre were initially suspended following the incident, but now no longer work for the service, Birmingham Mail reports.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the centre ‘required improvement’ following a damning inspection amid the pandemic, finding that patients ‘were not always treated with kindness and compassion’.
The inspection summary outlined ‘an incident of physical abuse towards one patient by a member of staff’.
Distressing footage shows the man falling on to the concrete outside The Olive Carter Unit at Hunters Moor Neurorehabilitation Centre for the West Midlands, in Hall Green
The Olive Carter Unit at Hunters Moor Neurorehabilitation Centre for the West Midlands, in Hall Green
While West Midlands Police were notified of the footage, no arrests have been made, it is understood.
A former patient said he had been unhappy at the centre for months, adding: ‘It’s meant to be a place of rehabilitation, but there was a fear of being grabbed all the time. The actions from the worker in the video is disgusting.’
The CQC also raised issues including patients’ privacy and dignity not being protected all the time, with some bedroom windows not having privacy films, which allowed ‘people to be seen in their rooms’.
Evidence also suggested night staff slept at night while they ‘should have been awake to monitor and support patients’, it was said.
The staff member, who was later sacked, can be seen pushing the patient out of his chair during the shocking incident in May last year
The summary went on: ‘The provider reported the incident to the police the local safeguarding team and CQC as soon as they became aware of this.
‘In addition, three members of staff have been suspended and the perpetrator has been dismissed. Patients told us that some staff did not communicate with patients and ignored their request for information.’
The CQC also found that some bedrooms and shared bathrooms did not have nurse call systems to call for help when needed.
The centre said in a statement: ‘We deeply regret this incident which took place in May last year; it in no way reflects the commitment and care provided by our staff.
‘Following the incident, we proactively alerted the police and regulators and undertook a thorough internal investigation. As a result, disciplinary action was taken and the individuals involved were dismissed. This took into consideration the views of the patient’s family.
‘We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of support, and our top priority is ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of the people in our care.
‘Working closely with the CQC, we developed an action plan to improve care which we have been implementing over the past year, which includes changing the type of services we provide.
‘The service where the incident took place remains closed and will reopen once significant environmental and leadership improvements are put in place.’
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