Hospital cruelty exposed

London - A hospital's culture of cruelty in which mentally ill patients were tied to their commodes was exposed yesterday. The report into North Lakeland NHS Trust in Cumbria blames "whole systems failure" for a catalogue of degrading, unprofessional and cruel practices at Garlands Hospital in Carlisle. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) inquiry team supported allegations that patients were tied to commodes, sworn at and denied food, clothing and blankets. This was blamed on a lack of corporate management and clinical government. The trust chairman and the director of personnel have been dismissed. The chief executive has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing and senior managers have received warnings.