Five healthcare professionals have been charged with a number of offences, including unlawful sedation, as part of a major investigation into the ill treatment of patients at a Lancashire hospital.

The five people, who worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, have been charged following a police investigation into alleged offences committed on the stroke unit.

In November 2018 police were contacted by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after concerns were raised about the care provided to a number of patients.

Det Ch Insp Jill Johnston, leading the investigation, said: “This is a complex investigation into allegations of unlawful sedation and ill treatment of patients on the stroke unit at Blackpool over a number of years.

“The safety of patients and the public remains our absolute priority and this inquiry has investigated the care provided to often elderly and vulnerable people.

"Everyone should be safe in hospital, to receive the care they require and be treated with dignity and respect.

“Our investigation remains ongoing and we continue to provide support to the many families affected.

"I would encourage anyone with information to contact the investigation team in confidence and someone from the team will recontact you.”

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, five people – three nurses and two health care assistants – will appear at court for various offences including ill-treatment relating to the unlawful sedation of patients, conspiracies to ill-treat, as well as the theft and supply of medication.

The charges relate to the period between August 2014 and November 2018.

The following people have been charged;

• Catherine Hudson, 52, of Coriander Close, Blackpool has been charged with seven offences of a care worker ill-treating/wilfully neglecting an individual; eight offences of conspiring to steal from employer; one offence of theft by employee; and one offence of perverting the course of justice.

• Charlotte Wilmot, 47, of Bowland Crescent, Blackpool has been charged with one offence of encouraging/assisting in the commission of an offence believing it will be committed – this relates to encouraging a nurse to sedate a patient; one offence of conspiring to ill-treat a patient; and four offences of conspiring to steal from employer.

• Matthew Pover, 39, of Bearwood Road, Smethwick, West Midlands has been charged with one offence of conspiring to steal from employer; one offence of theft by employee; one offence of supplying a Class C drug; and one offence of offering to supply a Class C drug.

• Victoria Holehouse, 31, of Riverside Drive, Hambleton is charged with two offences of conspiring to steal from employer.

• Marek Grabianowski, 45, of Montpelier Avenue, Bispham is charged with three offences of conspiring to steal from employer and one offence of perverting the course of justice.

All are due to appear at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on May 31.

Anyone with any information can contact the investigation team on https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020118W07-PO1 or by calling 101 quoting log 0612 of May 4.

Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.

This investigation is not linked to a 51-year-old man charged in December 2021 with a number of sexual assaults at the hospital.

The murder investigation into the death of Valerie Kneale on the stroke unit continues.