Learning disabled were physically and sexually assaulted in units

David Brindle
Wednesday January 17, 2007
The Guardian

The NHS faces being stripped of its responsibility for learning disability services after inspectors today issue the second damning report in six months into the care of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

People with learning disabilities had been subjected to physical and sexual abuse at a hospital in London, according to an investigation by the Healthcare Commission. One member of staff was jailed for six years last summer after being charged with rape of a woman resident who was considered unable to give consent due to her low mental age. A second staff member had been given a suspended sentence for a sex offence against the same woman a year earlier.

The report by the official healthcare watchdog into conditions at units run by the Sutton and Merton primary care trust also reveals that inspectors found another woman resident "for many years" had her arm tied to a splint for most of the day, apparently to prevent her putting her hand in her mouth and developing sores.

The investigation found people with learning disabilities living at Orchard Hill hospital in Carshalton, south London, and other units run by the trust had been treated in outdated and infantilising ways. Living conditions were impoverished, routines arranged for the convenience of staff and organised activities at the hospital provided for less than five hours a week.

The commission's findings follow its report last summer on abuse of learning disabled people in services run by the Cornwall Partnership NHS trust.

There, one man who had no speech, sight or hearing was tied to his wheelchair or bed for up to 16 hours a day, ostensibly to stop him harming himself. The commission is launching an audit of learning disability services across England and will inspect 200 of them. Fiona Ritchie, who heads the commission's work on learning disability, said: "People have lived like this for too long."

But ministers are poised to step in before the commission uncovers any more scandals, by ordering that the NHS surrender its lead role, and will pass more than £2bn in funding to local councils.

A policy review within the Department of Health is nearing completion after Ivan Lewis, care services minister, told parliament he intended to strengthen local government's role.

Rob Greig, the government's co-director or "tsar" for learning disability, told the Guardian: "This is another case where the NHS has been shown to fail in commissioning services for where people live and how they get support. My personal view is that the NHS should be transferring responsibility to local authorities and focusing on commissioning good-quality, mainstream healthcare for people with learning disabilities."

Sutton and Merton PCT is already preparing to hand over its role, other than in the area of personal health. Caroline Taylor, its chief executive, said: "I don't think the PCT is the best organisation to be providing learning disability services. Most people who use the services primarily have social needs rather than healthcare needs."

Councils control more than £3bn of learning disability services, but the NHS in some parts of England has clung to the lead role and not established working partnership arrangements with councils despite the evolution of community care and the closure of long-stay hospitals.


This report is staggering.

In one way it's staggering that this level of abuse can be missed for all this time- and in another way it's staggering that apparently the staff concerned were not aware that their actions were actually abusive. Were they not aware that the people they were caring for are real human beings with emotions and feelings?

One wonders how many of these offending staff are from overseas, bungled in to fill the staff shortages :suspect:

In one way it's staggering that this level of abuse can be missed for all this time- and in another way it's staggering that apparently the staff concerned were not aware that their actions were actually abusive. Were they not aware that the people they were caring for are real human beings with emotions and feelings?

Then the staff obviously arent qualified to do the job.
This is disgusting:gag:

The radio report just highlighted poor training, low morale & poor pay...

"Pay peanuts - get monkeys" springs to mind

I know healthcare staff are low-paid Don, but there really is no excuse for that. At all. :shakes:

I don't think they were excusing it mate, just highlighting the issues that cause the long slow slide into this kind of scandal

One wonders how many of these offending staff are from overseas, bungled in to fill the staff shortages :suspect:

I don't think most people would wonder anything of the kind- this issue, as with so many others, is down purely to NHS ineptness.

That ineptness is usually a consequence of dire admin, rather than the staff.

Past instances of NHS patient abuse have generally involved native British staff rather than immigrant staff.

Staff brought in from abroad tend to be at least as compassionate as those born here.

One wonders how many of these offending staff are from overseas, bungled in to fill the staff shortages :suspect:

Are you implying that overseas carers are any less likely to care than home grown ones Don? What a bizarre idea.

I haven't lost it (http://www.alaska-halibut-fishing-charters.com/JeraldsHalibut.jpg) :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:
Are you implying that overseas carers are any less likely to care than home grown ones Don? What a bizarre idea.

Are you implying that overseas carers are any less likely to care than home grown ones Don? What a bizarre idea.

I dont think thats what hes saying.

I dont think thats what hes saying.

What do you think he's saying?

What do you think he's saying?

Apart from fishing, I was saying that One wonders how many of these offending staff are from overseas, bungled in to fill the staff shortages

In my experience of working with overseas carers - the ones I have worked with (without exception) have a very poor command of English, have overseas 'qualifications' that are not quality assured as comparative to NMC standards (previously UKCC).

One cannot ascertain what appropriate experience they claim to have as paperwork can be forged - it's pretty much based on trust.

With the gaping chasm of staff/ skill shortages in the UK then it can be seen as an elastoplast to repair an artery.
IMO

Apart from fishing, I was saying that One wonders how many of these offending staff are from overseas, bungled in to fill the staff shortages

In my experience of working with overseas carers - the ones I have worked with (without exception) have a very poor command of English, have overseas 'qualifications' that are not quality assured as comparative to NMC standards (previously UKCC).

One cannot ascertain what appropriate experience they claim to have as paperwork can be forged - it's pretty much based on trust.

With the gaping chasm of staff/ skill shortages in the UK then it can be seen as an elastoplast to repair an artery.
IMOAnd this makes them rapists...how?

i dont give a toss where they come from sick ********, lock em up give them hard time these patients have enough problems has it is

The most serious offender's gone down already. As a sex offender, he'll get what's due.

The most serious offender's gone down already. As a sex offender, he'll get what's due.

Pun intended? ;) ;) ;)