Care Workers Charged Over Alleged Patient Abuse at Mental Health Unit

Two care workers have been charged with the ill-treatment of patients at an NHS mental health facility that was the subject of a BBC Panorama investigation.

Support worker Sheryl Price, 45, from Bolton, faces 14 counts of ill-treatment. Sara Coleman, 43, a nurse from Stretford, has been charged with five counts relating to four alleged victims.

Greater Manchester Police said the charges follow an investigation launched in 2022 after Panorama aired an undercover exposé in September that year, revealing allegations of abuse at The Edenfield Centre, a secure mental health unit in Prestwich.

Detective Inspector Julie Adams said: "Since 2022, we have been actively investigating several allegations relating to The Edenfield Centre, following a period of undercover filming at the mental health unit. We have now charged two suspects in relation to this, and they will appear in court in the new year.

Since this incident was brought to our attention, we have been working with partner agencies to safeguard patients and to investigate any criminality. Anyone who has concerns about care they or a loved one have received should contact us or Crimestoppers."

Following the broadcast, NHS England commissioned an independent review into the trust running the facility — the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH).

The review, published in January 2024, uncovered serious failings, including poor leadership, chronic staff shortages, low morale, and high staff turnover. It found that senior managers were "disconnected from reality" and that patients and families were often dismissed or ignored when raising concerns about care.

The Panorama programme had shown disturbing footage of patients being mocked, humiliated, bullied, inappropriately restrained, and left in seclusion for long periods.

The review made 11 recommendations covering patient care, clinical leadership, workplace culture, staffing, and governance.

GMMH chief executive Jan Ditheridge issued an apology following the review's publication and said that an improvement plan had been implemented to address the issues identified.

Both defendants have been bailed to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on March 25, 2026.

E&K Solicitors