The mental health trust running the Edenfield Centre in Prestwich will receive "mandatory support" following patient abuse allegations earlier this year.

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), confirmed in a letter to stakeholders that it had joined the national Recovery Support Programme (RSP), intended to provide "intensive support in areas where it is most needed".

In September, a BBC Panorama programme broadcast secret footage showing staff verbally abusing patients, using inappropriate restraint according to experts, and forging paperwork.

The NHS will work with the trust and other partners across Greater Manchester to understand the challenges faced by GMMH and to agree and deliver a "package of mandatory intensive support".

The letter, signed by Chief Executive Neil Thwaite and outgoing Ttust board chair, Rupert Nichols says the programme will provide access to "additional expertise and resources, to ensure sustainable improvements are made as quickly as possible".

It continued: “NHS England have advised us they will commission an independent review into the trust’s services.

"This follows concerns raised by service users, their families, and staff, some of which have been presented through the media.

“We hope this review will bring some clarity and reassurance to those we care for, as well as the wider public, in respect of the ongoing safety of the services we deliver.”

“On behalf of the board, we can assure you that we take the challenges ahead of us extremely seriously.

“It is now time to work with our partners to make any changes required and ensure they are strongly embedded so that we can offer the highest quality of safe and effective care to service users in the months and years ahead.”

 A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, added:  “The trust board is committed to providing the best quality care to our service users.

“The Recovery Support Programme provides an opportunity for us to work together with all our partners across Greater Manchester to build better and more sustainable services for our service users.

“In addition, we welcome NHS England’s decision to commission an independent review into our services.

"We hope this review will bring some clarity and reassurance to those we care for, and the public, regarding the ongoing safety of the services we deliver.

We will engage openly and thoroughly with this work.”