Castlebeck put into administration

The English hospital group owned by wealthy Irish investors led by Denis Brosnan, which was severely criticised after staff were shown abusing disturbed patients, has been put into administration.

Castlebeck, which has 20 centres left in the Midlands and northwest of England and Scotland, was bought for £255 million in 2006 by Mr Brosnan’s Lydian Capital, after he had encouraged JP McManus, Dermot Desmond and John Magnier to become involved.

Castlebeck made international headlines after an undercover BBC Panorama reporter filmed nurses at one of its homes, Winterbourne View in Bristol, beating and abusing patient in a “gross breach of trust and power”, a judge said later when he jailed six of them.

The Irish investors approved a reform plan which led to the creation of a new board and management team and the disciplining and sacking of staff and the hiring of new ones.

Last night administrators Grant Thornton said Castlebeck’s remaining 214 patients and residents would “continue to receive the highest level of medical, nursing and clinical care”, while transfers, if necessary, will be carried out as slowly as possible.