Care staff are caught swearing at and insulting vulnerable patients in undercover sting at scandal-hit NHS-funded hospital

• e-mail

Hospital staff have been caught on camera in an undercover investigation abusing vulnerable adults by mocking, taunting, intimidating and restraining them.

Workers at Whorlton Hall in County Durham were filmed calling one patient a 'fat c**t' while another used language offensive to disabled people to describe the privately-run hospital. 

The investigation by BBC Panorama also revealed another patient being told by her care worker at the NHS-funded centre that her family were 'f***ing poison'.

Hospital owner Cygnet has now suspended 16 workers and Durham Constabulary has begun a probe following the findings, which will be shown on BBC One tonight.

Workers at Whorlton Hall in County Durham were filmed talking about the adults they care for

The hospital staff have been caught on camera in an undercover investigation by Panorama

The investigation saw reporter Olivia Davies go undercover as a care worker for two months to investigate claims by whistleblowers of mistreatment and poor care. 

She filmed shocking scenes of staff using offensive language to describe patients, with two male staff members singling out a female patient for particular abuse.

Aware she was scared of men, they left her distressed while trying to keep her quiet by claming her room would be inundated with men - or 'pressing the man button'.

On other occasions the workers can be heard within her earshot using explicit sexual language, and one threatened to 'deck her' if she tries to run at staff. 

Glynis Murphy, an expert in clinical psychology and disability at the University of Kent, told the programme that the treatment was like 'psychological torture'. 

Six care workers claimed to the BBC reporter that they had deliberately hurt patients

The professor said: 'She is stuck there, she can't get away. It is a secure unit. And they are deliberately taunting her and deliberately upsetting her.'

The investigation also filmed various incidents physical restraint, which should only be used to prevent a patient harming themselves or others.

Birmingham City University autism expert Andrew McDonnell, who develops training aimed at limiting restraint, said: 'Restraint should be momentary. It should be short. 

'It should be with as few staff as possible, without an audience. If there is no immediate risk of harm you back off. You're talking a threshold of minute of two.'

But one restraint saw a patient held down for nearly ten minutes, with a worker holding his head between his knees, while handing out chewing gum to colleagues. 

The hospital promises therapeutic care for around 12 adults with learning disabilities or autism

Hospital owner Cygnet has suspended 16 workers and Durham police have begun a probe

The patient's possessions were removed from his room and shown to him while he was still being restrained - something Mr McDonnell described as cruel punishment. 

In another incident filmed undercover for the programme, a patient was deliberately antagonised by a care worker, who removed a poster from his wall. 

When the patient reacted, the staff members threatened him by saying: 'Get in there, punch me and see what happens. I'll put you through the floor.' 

Six care workers claimed to the reporter that they had deliberately hurt patients – including one who described banging a patient's head against the floor.

The hospital, which promises therapeutic care for around 12 adults with learning disabilities or autism, had been rated good by the Care Quality Commission in 2017.

The investigation saw Panorama reporter Olivia Davies (pictured) go undercover as a care worker for two months to investigate claims by whistleblowers of mistreatment and poor care

Dr Paul Lelliott, its deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said the abuse was clearly not picked up, adding:  'All I can do is apologise deeply to the people concerned.'

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman told the programme: 'We treat any allegations of abuse with the utmost seriousness. 

'Durham Constabulary are now leading a criminal investigation into the allegations. Steps have been taken to ensure the safety of residents at Whorlton Hall.'

And a Cygnet spokesman said: 'We have suspended all the members of staff involved (and) simultaneously informed all relevant authorities, including the police.'

The company added that it transferred all of the patients to other hospitals, and it has a 'zero tolerance of unprofessional conduct towards them'.

The latest investigation comes eight years after Panorama exposed abuse at another specialist hospital for vulnerable adults, Winterbourne View near Bristol.

Panorama: Undercover Abuse Scandal will be shown on BBC One at 9pm tonight