Six arrests made after investigation into abuse at Lancaster nursing home

The Lancashire Constabulary yesterday confirmed the arrest of six care workers for alleged mistreatment and neglect of residents at Hillcroft Nursing Home, a thirty-six capacity accommodation located in Slyne-with-Hest, Lancaster.

The result of a five-month investigation, the six arrests were made yesterday morning in the Lancaster and Morecambe areas; the police statement confirms the individuals to be four women aged 26, 27, 53 and 59 years, and two men aged 26 and 34 years.

Allegations date back to December 2010 and as recent as February 2012, alleged to have occurred in the home’s specialist Challenging Behaviour Unit designed to look after adults with advanced states of dementia.

Chief Superintendent Richard Bayly, divisional commander at Northern Division, explains: “These arrests are a culmination of a thorough investigation into serious allegations of mistreatment of residents at Hillcroft Slyne nursing home. The enquiry is complicated and we have a team of specialist detectives working on this case who are also offering support to those families who may have had loved ones identified as being allegedly mistreated.

“Our priority from the outset has been to ensure the safety of patients within the Slyne home and the Constabulary has been working closely with Lancashire County Council’s Adult Services Department and NHS North Lancashire to ensure that any safeguarding issues were addressed immediately.”

Managing director of Hillcroft Nursing Home, John Ayrton, issued the following statement: “Further to the police statement released we wish to confirm that, since the incident was brought to our attention, we have fully co-operated with the police investigation and continue to work closely with Lancashire County Council, the Care Quality Commission and North Lancashire Primary Care Trust.”

All six individuals have been released on bail until November 15 and the constabulary has established a multi-agency significant incident learning review to decipher what lessons can be learnt from the case, in order to better safeguard of vulnerable adults in care in the future.