The head of a medical trust has issued an apology to the borough after the Harrow Observer exclusively revealed pensioners were tied up with bed sheets and braces at Northwick Park Hospital.
Dr Sarah Crowther, chief executive of Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT), said she accepted full responsibility for the actions of her staff on Fletcher ward who subjected five OAPs to the degrading treatment between October and November last year.
She said: "I accept full responsibility on behalf of the PCT and we have already, of course, apologised to the patients concerned and their relatives.
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the wider public in Harrow for our failing to meet the standard of care we and they expect us to provide."
A damning report published by the trust last month said the unit was severely understaffed at the time. It was later found the nurses on duty did not have the required training.
The ward was taken over by The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust in April this year. At a board meeting last week an action plan was agreed to make improvements on the ward.
This includes Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) training for staff and more senior management on wards.
Fiona Wise, chief executive of The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Progress has already been made to address many of the areas highlighted.
"This includes ensuring our staff receive the appropriate training so they can provide the highest quality care for older people.
"We have introduced a head nurse for elderly care at a senior level, more consultant and senior management presence on the wards and more staff meetings. Vacancies have been and continue to be recruited to."
