A national response to the abuse of people with learning disabilities and autism at Winterbourne View
5 July 2011
"There is no place for hospitals such as Winterbourne View - the provision of learning disability hospitals is wrong."
On 21 June Learning Disability Wales joined 85 people and organisations who have worked for many years to help people with learning disabilities live their lives as full and equal citizens in our society in writing to the Prime Minister, David Cameron about the proper response needed to what was seen at Winterbourne View. The letter is in response to systematic, premeditated and emotional abuse of people with learning disabilities uncovered by the BBC at Winterbourne View, a privately-run hospital in Gloucestershire owned by the Castlebeck Group.
As the letter points out, "We are aware of the various actions currently being taken within and outside government – such as the DH review and CQC internal inquiry. We hope to make submissions to those both individually and collectively. However, on their own these will not be enough and a clear programme is needed to achieve change.
"We were encouraged to hear that you had shown a personal interest in this issue and we urge those with the power and authority to help prevent further such abuse to take note and implement these actions".
The letter emphasises five important points:
- "Our proposals are based on the evidence of what works in public services – knowledge that has been the basis of the policy of successive governments. Those policies just need to be implemented.
- One element of this is that there is no place for hospitals such as Winterbourne View. Beyond a very small number of beds integrated with other local services for short-term assessment and treatment and a small number of others linked to forensic needs, the provision of learning disability hospitals is wrong. The model does not work and should be made unnecessary by competent local services. The only way forward is a planned and properly supported programme of work to replace existing hospitals with proper individualised, evidence based services and supports that are integrated as far as possible into local communities.
- There is a wide consensus across the learning disability field about how to respond to the issues identified by Panorama. Our proposals are not contentious in the field, having been endorsed by a very broad range of people and organisations, including representatives of people with learning disabilities and family carers.
- Whilst the organisations that particularly failed in allowing the abuse at Winterbourne View should be held to account for their failures, (the provider, the regulator and the various commissioners), focusing only on them would be a mistake. The underpinning issue is one of the overall service and system design – hence the need for Government to take a lead. Without the type of actions we suggest below, there is a very real risk of similar things happening again, elsewhere.
- Whilst this abuse took place in England, under English policy, similar services exist in the other countries of the UK. We are therefore also copying this letter to the relevant Ministers and officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (our signatories come from all four countries)."
The letter, plus more information on the issue and the response of learning disability organisations, can be viewed at Bild's website. The letter is also available in Easy Read.
