Following the broadcast on 29th October of BBC Panorama’s follow-up program on Winterbourne View, ‘The Hospital That Stopped Caring’ (which presented new evidence of poor training and false record-keeping at Winterbourne View, and claims that a number of former patients have faced further assaults or unnecessary restraints in other care establishments), Liz Kendall MP tabled a question in the Commons to Minister Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to make a statement on the steps the Government have taken to ensure the safeguarding of former Winterbourne View residents.
The full text of Norman Lamb’s reply to this question, and to the supplementary questions tabled by several other MPs, may be viewed here.
Numerous important issues were raised e.g. inspection regimes, regulation, access to advocacy, police behaviour. With regard to family carers, this exchange occurred between the Minister and Claire Perry MP.
Claire Perry (Devizes, Conservative): People who watched “Panorama” will know that a tall, flame-haired young man named Simon Tovey was one of the patients who suffered horrific abuse. His mother, Ann Earley, is my constituent, as is Simon who has now returned to a lovely community care home in West Lavington. Mrs Earley believes that the views of parents in particular were not heard under the system—they knew for years the problems pertaining to Simon’s care. What reassurance can the Minister give to Mrs Earley, and the House, that the views of parents and other responsible adults will be included when seeking to avoid these tragedies in the future?
Norman Lamb: It struck me when I listened to the story of that family that I would like to meet them if they are interested in having that discussion. Just as it is essential that people with learning disabilities have their say, it is critical that the family is involved in the discussions before the commissioning takes place, so that they are partners in the decisions that are taken in respect of those individuals.
In summary, during questioning from MPs, the Minister stated that
- He was “extremely concerned” that an investigation into the care of ex-Winterbourne view patients in September revealed there are current safeguarding alerts for six former patients. A previous investigation in March had uncovered 19 safeguarding alerts.
- Sixteen of the 48 former Winterbourne View patients remain in hospital settings. The other 32 have had alternative arrangements made for their care in the community and other settings.
- He plans to meet with the families of ex-Winterbourne View patients to hear their concerns first hand.
- Care providers involved in abuse scandals should be held to account “at a corporate level” as well as individuals being dealt with via the criminal justice system.W
- There is a “serious issue” with the quality of commissioning of learning disability services. “The sense is that too often people are placed in these settings and forgotten about,” Lamb said.
- A full government response to Winterbourne View will be published in November.