Dementia patients were left screaming in pain after they were beaten and neglected by hospital care assistants at Whipps Cross Hospital, a court heard yesterday.

Akosua Sakyiwaa, 38, of Orange Grove in Leytonstone, is one of three people who is alleged to have treated the women in a manner ‘not acceptable on any ward’ along with Anette Jackson, 33, of Hounslow and Sharlima Gunda, 36, of Horns Road in Barkingside.

The alleged abuse only came to light when student nurse Lucy Brown blew the whistle after completing a placement on the hospital’s Beech Ward.

Sakyiwaa is said to have left a frail 92-year-old Lily Oliver pale and screaming in pain after pushing her arthritic knee.

They now face a total of 16 charges, stretching from February 27 to April 30 last year.

Prosecutor John McNally told Snaresbrook Crown Court: “Ms Sakyiwaa grabbed her knee with both hands and pushed it towards Lucy Brown.

“This caused Ms Oliver to scream with pain and turn pale before falling silent.”

Sakyiwaa is charged with seven counts of ill-treatment and one count of assault by beating against eight different patients.

Jackson faces five counts of ill treatment against five different patients and Gunda faces two counts of ill treatment and one of assault by beating against three patients.

Mr McNally added: “Patients were female, often elderly and suffering from various physical and mental conditions including dementia.

“What cannot be disputed by anyone is that each patient is entitled to proper care and should receive it.

He added: “It is obvious that the entitlement to proper care should not be a matter of chance or be given at the whim of the carer.

'The conduct complained of simply had no place on any ward.”

All the alleged victims, with the exception of June Evans, are considered too mentally frail to give evidence.

Sakyiwaa, Gunda and Jackson deny all the charges against them.

The case, expected to last two weeks, continues.