Winterbourne View scandal: Patients to be moved from private hospitals

The government plans to move significant number of patients with learning disabilities from private hospitals.

14:22 12 December 2012

Following BBC Panorama’s expose on alarming neglect and abuse that patients with disabilities went through at Winterbourne View private hospital, the government is now seriously considering moving significant numbers of these patients to community-based support.

Care minister Norman Lamb has confirmed that hospitals such as Winterbourne View private hospital will be reviewed by June 2013. Currently, the NHS pays private hospitals thousands of pounds to care for 3,400 people with learning disabilities.

The minister said he felt “shock, anger, dismay, and deep regret” when he learned about Winterbourne View scandal where reportedly 11 former staff admitted to 38 charges of ill-treatment and neglect. Six were jailed, while the remaining five were given suspended sentences.

Aside from the staff, Mr Lamb, feels very strongly about taking those people running the care homes to justice.

 

“When you look at Winterbourne View, the people who committed the abuse and the assaults were convicted, but what about the people making the money from that company.”

 

"We need to have a situation where people who run care organisations, public or private sector or voluntary, know that they are accountable for the services they provide and there are consequences if they don't.”