Three female healthcare assistants have been rebailed until August 15 over allegations of assault at Whipps Cross University Hospital.

The three women returned to an east London police station on Friday after being arrested on suspicion of common assault of a number of elderly patients on April 26.

Allegations of physical and verbal abuse at the hospital’s Beech ward in Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, which has been changed to a general admissions ward, were raised with senior nursing staff in April.

The women have been suspended from their work and an investigation by Barts Health NHS Trust is ongoing.