It has emerged that three women were arrested on suspicion of assaulting elderly patients at Whipps Cross hospital, Leytonstone

A Met Police spokeswoman said two women were initially arrested on suspicion of common assault at the Leytonstone hospital in April and another attended a police station by appointment and was later arrested as well.

She added that they had all been bailed until the end of this month.

A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs Whipps, said: "The allegations brought to us were of physical and verbal abuse of vulnerable patients.

"The issue was raised with senior nursing staff at Whipps Cross University Hospital in April and the hospital management team reacted immediately.

"We informed the Care Quality Commission, the local Metropolitan Police and Waltham Forest Council’s adult safeguarding team, and we have continued to work with these organisations since."

He added: "We contacted patients (or their families where this was more appropriate) who had been cared for on the ward where the allegations were raised between mid-February and mid-April.

"The majority of the patients or relatives we have spoken with were very happy with the standards of care they received."

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