Five Blackpool Victoria Hospital staff have been charged with criminal offences as part of a major investigation into the ill-treatment of hospital patients. Three nurses and two healthcare assistants will appear at court later this month for offences including unlawful sedation of patients and theft

The charges relate to a period between August 2014 and November 2018 and follow concerns over the welfare of some patients on the stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The Policer have stressed that this investigation is not related to the separate murder investigation into the death of a patient and the investigation into alleged sexual assaults at the hospital.

Those charged are:

• Catherine Hudson, 52, of Coriander Close, Blackpool
• Charlotte Wilmot, 47, of Bowland Crescent, Blackpool
• Matthew Pover, 39, of Bearwood Road in Smethwick
• Victoria Holehouse, 31, of Riverside Drive, Hambleton
• Marek Grabianowski, 45, of Montpelier Avenue, Bispham.

The five face charges including ill-treatment or wilful neglect, encouraging a nurse to sedate a patient, theft, supplying drugs and perverting the course of justice. They are all due to appear at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on 31st May.

Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston said the charges relate to the care provided to often elderly and vulnerable people which and had been happening over a number of years. She added: ‘This is a complex investigation. The safety of patients and the public remains our absolute priority. Our investigation remains ongoing and we continue to provide support to the many families affected.’