An Ilford healthcare assistant accused of assault and neglect against elderly patients is to stand trial.

Sharmilla Gunda, 35, of Horns Road, and two other assistants, Annette Jackson, 32, and Akousa Sakyiwaa, 37, deprived vulnerable female pensioners of on the Beech Ward at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, it is claimed.

The alleged abuse is said to have occurred between March 1 and April 30 last year.

The claims emerged between mid-February and mid-April after student nurses who say they witnessed the ill-treatment became whistle-blowers.

Prosecutor John McNally told Snaresbrook Crown Court: “The indictment covers the period that each had care of a number of elderly and vulnerable patients with some student nurses as part of their training.

“The student nurses became whistle-blowers and revealed a pattern of behaviour that led to the indictment counts.”

Gunda denies two charges of ill-treatment or neglect of a person who lacks capacity and a further count of assault by beating.

Jackson, of Hounslow, denies six charges alleging the ill-treatment or neglect of a person who lacks capacity while Sakyiwaa, of Leytonstone, denies seven like charges and a count of assault by beating.

The trial has been scheduled for June 3.