NURSES who said their lives had been destroyed after blowing the whistle on abuse of children at four care homes have received an apology on behalf of the NHS.
The development came at a conference in Newcastle yesterday, at which an independent review upheld complaints made by staff, including maltreatment and neglect.
The review was commissioned last year by Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust, which took over the Lynnwood Avenue, Hartburn Drive and Dunelm homes from the former Newcastle City Health NHS Trust, in October.
Newcastle and North Tyneside Health Authority chief executive, David Flory, accepted the findings and recommendations.
He said: "I do feel that the householders, their family and the staff who made the complaints and raised concerns at an earlier stage have been let down in the way the NHS has handled issues over a period of time.
"I now hope that, having accepted the report, we are able to move forward and improve things. I think that action has already been taken by Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust, and we are all committed to improve services in the homes."
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