Scandal-hit hospital closes in wake of Panorama investigation

Winterbourne View learning disability hospital closed last month after a BBC Panorama programme exposed the serious abuse that was taking place there.

All residents of the 24-bed hospital have been moved out to alternative accommodation and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have deregistered the hospital, making it illegal for any new residents to be admitted there.

The Panorama programme, entitled ‘Undercover Care’, showed footage of adults with learning disabilities being choked, pushed and taunted by employees at Winterbourne View hospital. They launched an undercover investigation after being approached by nurse Terry Bryan, a former staff member at Winterbourne who had previously reported his concerns to management and the CQC. He decided to contact Panorama when no action was taken.

Since the programme was aired, the police have arrested and bailed eleven people in connection with the case, on suspicion of ill-treatment under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Castlebeck, the care service provider who operated Winterbourne View, has suspended two managers and eleven members of its frontline staff. After issuing a public apology for the abuse, they commissioned Price-Waterhouse-Coopers to conduct an independent investigation into their services. Castlebeck have admitted a failure to follow their own whistle-blowing procedures when Mr Bryan first contacted them in October 2010.

The CQC has also admitted that its failure to contact Mr Bryan directly affected their ability to act swiftly and decisively. They have launched an internal review into their role in the case while the South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adult Board has launched a serious case review. Care Services Minister Paul Burstow has also spoken about the possibility of an independent review into the case, examining the actions of both the CQC and safeguarding agencies.

The care service regulator has also agreed to carry out a series of unannounced, random spot checks on further learning disability hospitals across the country. Admissions into private hospitals for people with learning disabilities are on the increase while two recent audits of specialist health provision for learning disabled people have highlighted poor standards of care at such facilities.

Darren Emery, Business Development Director at First Response Training, which provides a wide range of training services for the health and social care sector, says: “This is obviously an alarming case which has sent shockwaves through the care industry and its impact will probably be felt for some time. It is good that all residents of the hospital in question have now been moved and it is hoped that they are now receiving the type of high quality care and respect that they deserve. The hope is that there will be some positive outcomes from this and that robust preventative measures can be put in place to avoid similar cases in the future.

“We work to support a number of care providers, including those providing care for learning disabled people, through training and development and would always seek to highlight that there are many care organisations providing a very commendable service. The standard of care can always be enhanced through further staff training and development, and that’s where we come in. For details of the extensive range of training courses and range of delivery options that we can offer, please call us today on free phone 0800 310 2300.”