Beleagured NHS Trust denies claims it 'breached human rights' by banning patient's phones

A beleagured NHS Trust has denied claims that it has breached human rights by imposing a blanket ban on mobile phones of patients in a mental health unit. The allegations concern the Edenfield Centre at the site of the former Prestwich Hospital in Bury.

Edenfield is already the subject of a criminal investigation by Greater Manchester Police after allegations that patient were abused by staff. Last week several staff who were among more than 20 that have been suspended were sacked.

It follows claims in a BBC Panorama programme that patients were abused at the unit. There are growing demands for a public inquiry into the centre. Manchester council has asked the government for exactly that following the Panorama investigation which aired last month.

READ MORE: Staff at mental health unit sacked following airing of Panorama investigation which appeared to show alleged abuse of patients

The number of people dismissed has not been revealed. Some staff were filmed by an undercover reporter embedded in the unit from March to June of this year. The footage appeared to show patients being bullied, humiliated, swore at and taunted by some members of staff.

Now support group CHARM (Communities for Holistic Accessible Rights based Mental Health), set up in 2020 to campaign for changes in the way psychiatric services are delivered in Greater Manchester, has criticised the NHS Trust which runs the centre. It claims thre has been a "blanket ban" on personal mobile phones for in-patients at Edenfiield.

But a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust which runs the centre said it was incorrect to say there was a "blanket ban". They said phones were removed from some patients depending on their individual cirumstances as