An abusive health care assistant from Barkingside has been found guilty of assault after she made an elderly dementia patient “shout in pain” at Whipps Cross University Hospital.

Sharmila Gunda, 36, of Horns Road, Barkingside, and colleagues Akosua Sakyiwaa, 38, and Annette Jackson, 33, have been found guilty of seven charges of neglecting the elderly women in their care between February 27 and April 30 last year at the hospital in Leytonstone.

The jury was unable to agree a verdict on eight other charges of neglect and assault by beating, after a two-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Gunda was found guilty of the assault of June Evans who shouted in pain when dirt was roughly cleaned off her body.

She was cleared of exposing Joan Mussett by leaving her curtains open, but was found guilty of neglecting her on April 17.

The nursing assistants, who have denied all charges, were questioned when student nurse Lucy Brown filed a whistleblowing report after completing a placement on Beech Ward.

Sakyiwaa, of Orange Grove, Leytonstone, was found guilty of four counts of neglecting three patients, including holding a bed sheet over 87-year-old Joan Mussett’s head and telling her she was dead.

Jackson, of Simpson Road, Hounslow, was found guilty of one count of neglecting patient Barbara Jones, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the four other charges.

Prosecutor John McNally said: “Patients were female, often elderly and suffering from various physical and mental conditions.

“It is obvious that the entitlement to proper care should not be a matter of chance or be given at the whim of the carer.”

The three have been bailed ahead of sentencing on August 23.