As reported in the Independent a group of more than 30 former patients, including children, are taking legal action against The Huntercombe Group, a scandal-hit children’s mental health hospital, after allegations of systemic abuse were exposed by The Independent. The claims span a period from 2003 to 2023 and include accusations of injuries during restraint, inappropriate force-feeding, and over-medication. Among the claimants are individuals who experienced trauma, were allegedly ‘groped’ by staff, and were ‘forced to use bins as there were insufficient staff to assist with toileting’. The legal action follows investigations by The Independent, which also revealed ongoing police investigations into the hospitals, including one involving the death of a 14-year-old girl and another into an alleged rape of a child patient.
Solicitors at Hutcheon Law have received at least three negligence inquiries per week since the abuse allegations were exposed. The claims involve periods when the hospitals were operated by different companies. The recent ruling allows the legal action to proceed and seeks to address the widespread mistreatment and abuse that occurred at the hospitals, providing hope for the claimants seeking justice. The revelations have sparked calls for improved safeguards and accountability in the management of mental health facilities to prevent future incidents of abuse.
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