A healthcare worker was sentenced to a year in jail today for neglecting elderly women in her care at Whipps Cross Hospital.

Akousa Sakyiwaa, 37, of Orange Grove, Leytonstone, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court to 12 months in prison for four counts of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity under Section 44 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Two other healthcare assistants were also sentenced.

Sharmilla Gunda, 36, of Horns Road, Ilford, was sentenced to 5 months in prison for one count of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity and one count of common assault.

Annette Jackson, 33, of Simpson Road, Hounslow, was sentenced to 2 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 100 hours unpaid work for one count of ill treatment or neglect of a person without capacity.

The three women were all found guilty at an earlier hearing on Friday June 21 after a student-nurse whistle-blower reported their abuse to senior hospital staff.

A police investigation found evidence that Sakyiwaa had held a bed sheet over 87-year-old Joan Musset's head and told her she was dead.

She also pushed elderly Elizabeth Toussant, shoving her down into a chair when she refused to be washed and slapped Louise Hodges, 92, when changing her bed clothes.

Detective Sergeant Tammy Dempsey from the MPS Community Safety Unit in Waltham Forest, said:"These three women had a responsibility for the welfare of those who were under their care.

“The public and families of these elderly patients have a right to expect that they will be treated with respect and looked after in an appropriate manner.

“Gunda, Jackson and Sakyiwaa let everyone down and it's right that they have been found guilty at court.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who had the courage to come forward and report these offences and give their evidence in court."

Barts Health have been contacted for a comment.