Two year study shows 100 mental health patients suffered rape, abuse or sexual predation in hospital

A report from Britain

Vulnerable women were the victims of more than 100 incidents of rape, abuse and sexual harassment in NHS mental health units over a two year period, a confidential report reveals. The study, leaked by a Whitehall source, investigated health trusts and psychiatric wards across the country and casts serious doubts on the Government's claim that single-sex wards now ensure patient safety.

The findings have not yet been published by the Department of Health - despite being sent to ministers and civil servants eight months ago.

Most of the incidents took place between October 2004 and October 2005, two years after the Government promised safe single-sex wards. The report contains details of sickening assaults by staff on mentally ill patients including male workers exposing themselves to female patients and raping or sexually assaulting them. It is believed the findings also reveal patient on-patient abuse, giving worrying indications that patients are poorly protected.

A spokesman for the National Patient Safety Agency, the organisation responsible for writing the study, said: 'The report is still at the Department of Health, where officers are looking into it. There is still some data in the report that the Department of Health need to analyse before it is released.' The spokesman confirmed that the report detailed incidents of rape and sexual assault in NHS institutions.

It is estimated 22 per cent of safety incidents in the NHS go unreported, meaning the study could be just the tip of the iceberg. Although spending on mental health has increased by £600million since 2000, there are still concerns that inpatient services have been overlooked. Cuts in beds and staff numbers have also made it difficult to provide single-sex wards.

Chief executive of mental health charity Mind, Paul Farmer, told The Times: 'We are talking about the care of some of the most vulnerable patients. I think people will rightly be appalled by these findings.'