A patient who died at a mental health hospital last month in eastern China's Shandong Province was found to have been severely beaten by nurses before her death.

A patient who died at a mental health hospital last month in eastern China's Shandong Province was found to have been severely beaten by nurses before her death. [Nanfang Daily]

The victim, Wang Xiuying, had been sent to Laiwu Mental Health Specialty Hospital on December 7 after she suffered a breakdown while preparing the wedding of her son, Zhu Chuanming, Shanghai Morning Post reported yesterday.

Hou Mingjin, president of the hospital, promised Wang's family that Wang would recover in a few days.

However, the family was told the next day that Wang needed to stay in hospital more than a month due to her deteriorating condition.

The family was not allowed to visit or call Wang in the next few days, but were told they could watch her via a camera installed in her ward if they came on December 17.

However, on December 15 the hospital told them Wang had suffered heart attack and had been sent to another hospital in the city for treatment.

They arrived at the Laiwu People's Hospital to find Wang was dead.