Six offences committed over two year period
A careworker has admitted repeatedly abusing a mentally ill female patient at Charing Cross Hospital.
Matthew Jones, 29, carried out a series of sexual assaults on the vulnerable patient while she was being treated at the Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health Unit, in Charing Cross Hospital.
It is believed some of the six offences he was charged with took place while the patient was recovering at her home.
The offences took place over a period of almost two years, between July 2006 and June 2008,
Jones, of Netley Road, Ilford, did not enter a plea at West London Magistrates' Court in June. His case was referred to Kingston Crown Court on August, where he pleaded guilty.
He was remanded in custody and could be jailed when he is sentenced on September 18.
A spokesman for West London Mental Health Unit has confirmed that a staff member had been charged for 'inappropriate relations' with a patient of mental health services.
"The member of staff in question was dismissed following an internal investigation," said the spokesman. "Criminal charges and sentencing are a matter for the courts."
He added that all staff underwent enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks on their background, and nursing staff were properly qualified professionals.
In July, the Care Quality Commission reported on its year long investigation into the trust, saying that in-patients had been put at risk by "seriously flawed" systems. The commission had serious concerns about its response to suicides and other serious incidents, lack of training and overcrowding. Sometimes patients had to sleep on sofas because there were not enough beds available.
September 3, 2009
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