World | UK
Male nurse abuses bulimia patients
He took advantage of his position in eating disorder clinic as NHS officials failed to act.
- By Sophie Goodchild
- Published: 00:05 July 21, 2008
London: A senior male nurse was able to abuse patients with eating disorders in a "shocking and unforgivable" way because of systemic failures by managers of the National Health Service.
David Britten worked at the Peter Dally clinic in Pimlico and was described in a damning report as a "manipulative predator".
He is known to have sexually abused at least 23 vulnerable women, some as young as 16, suffering from anorexia and bulimia over 20 years but there may be 100 more victims.
An independent investigation has found the abuse could have been stopped earlier but senior managers failed to identify the fact he was grooming patients behind the doors of his treatment room.
The report said Britten, now 57, repeatedly violated professional boundaries but went unchecked because monitoring systems were inadequate and staff repeatedly missed obvious signs.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council was singled out for criticism because it took two years to suspend Britten. An investigation by his employer, the Riverside Mental Health Trust, was also described as "seriously flawed".
- Evening Standard
Share this article
UK
Afghanistan commander calls for staying the course
Sexual assaults on children soars
Tough love moulds young minds best
Wanted man sends in replacement photo
Two British ticketholders share £90m jackpot
Mum dies trying to save son from blaze
Meeting the Queen with pen tucked behind ear!
Brown under fire over Afghanistan policies
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Daughters: Book on Sadat 'one-sided'
Pictorial collection excludes children from first wife
-
Over 6,000 Haj pilgrims to get vaccines
H1N1 and meningitis jabs compulsory for those going to Makkah in Saudi Arabia
-
Abu Dhabi residential city on track
Abu Dhabi Municipality says Dh651m infrastructure project to be completed
